TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Knowledge Sharing SPOTLIGHT ON
HELEN STURDY National Head of Construction and ProCure 23 Framework lead at NHS England
H
elen Sturdy CEng, MSc, BEng (Hons), FIHEEM, CIWFM, MAPM, MCIBSE, MAfH, NEC4Reg, who has always had a passion for engineering, is the National Head of Construction and ProCure
23 Framework lead at NHS England. On leaving school at 16 she joined the Women into Engineering Youth Training Apprentice scheme with GEC Turbines, before continuing her training while working at National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Services (NIFES), undertaking a day release BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering. It was during her time at NIFES that she worked at the private hospital, The London Clinic, advising the Estates and Facilities Director there on the structuring of the maintenance service and contracts, and completing her MSc at night school. She secured Chartered Engineer status in 2002. Helen continued to broaden her experience when she moved to DSSR, an international firm of consulting engineers, where she specialised in healthcare engineering, working with NHS Trusts across the country. This work – where, collaborating with design teams and contractors, she always strove for the most cost-effective and optimal solution for the NHS, gave her a solid understanding of healthcare construction. Throughout her career Helen has championed the engineering profession, and has particularly supported women entering the industry. From the start of her career at GEC she would say to other women: ‘Don’t assume you know what engineering is.’ Helen now commits part of her time as a STEM ambassador, visiting schools and colleges to help raise the profile of engineering careers and show the opportunities that can be taken. While she enjoys promoting the benefits of engineering to the next generation, her commitment to her own development does not take a back seat, as evident from her multiple accreditations
In her current role at NHS England, she works at a national level supporting the NHS with key challenges, such as the delivery of surge hubs to support winter bed pressures
and appointments to professional institutions. Helen’s approach has always been that knowledge is something that should be embraced and then shared, with the ultimate goal of ensuring better outcomes for people using the NHS. In her current role at NHS England, she works at a national level supporting the NHS with key challenges, such as the delivery of surge hubs to support winter bed pressures, and developing the NHS guidance around the recently published Building Safety Act. Her role also takes her further afield, most recently to Hong Kong, where she gave a keynote address and professional advice to the government there on achieving excellence in construction. Helen also liaises across the UK government, and the governments in Singapore, Canada, Australia, and the devolved nations, to advise and support knowledge-sharing, best practice, and consistency. Throughout her working life she has looked to further her knowledge and experience, which she shares freely with others, and
she now works with the IHEEM in support of its development and review of those wanting to join and progress, as she has, through the Institute.
Competent Person accreditation example.
January 2025 Health Estate Journal 15
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