Women In Construction Week: Q&A With Lynne Hicks

To mark Women In Construction Week 2026, we're proud to be shining a spotlight on the talented women helping to shape the future of Homes by Carlton.

This spotlight is on Lynne Hicks, one of our fantastic Senior Site Managers. Lynne is responsible for managing the delivery of developments from start to finish, and she is sharing with us her career journey, the most rewarding aspects of her job and her advice to aspiring women in construction.

Q. Can you tell us about your role at Homes by Carlton and what a typical day looks like?

As a Senior Site Manager at Homes by Carlton, my role is to lead and manage the delivery of high-quality new-build housing developments from start to finish, ensuring projects are completed safely, on programme, within budget, and to specification.

A typical day would generally begin with a site briefing – reviewing health and safety, setting priorities, and coordinating
subcontractors. I monitor progress against the programme, manage quality control and resolve any issues that arise. I liaise with clients, consultants and commercial teams to ensure smooth delivery. I also focus on maintaining a strong safety and quality culture across the site.

My role combines hands-on operational control with strategic planning to ensure every project meets the standards we promise to our customers.

Q. What has your career path looked like so far, and where there any pivotal moments along the way?

I started my career in 2009 as an Electrical Apprentice, which gave me a strong technical foundation and understanding of how work is delivered on-site. In 2013, I moved into a Trainee Site Manager role — a key point that shifted my focus to understanding and learning to manage whole projects.

By 2014, I became an Assistant Site Manager, taking on more responsibility for quality control, subcontractor management and project delivery. While working full-time, I completed a two-year HNC in Construction and the Built Environment, then went on to achieve a First-Class degree in Construction Project Management in 2017. Balancing study with site management strengthened my planning, commercial awareness and leadership skills.

I became a Site Manager in 2019, fully accountable for projects from groundwork to handover, and in 2025 I progressed to Senior Site Manager.

Q. What are the key skills you use most in your role?

The key skills I rely on within my role are leadership, programme management, quality control, health and safety, and communication.

Leadership is essential for managing multiple trades and site teams, whilst programme management keeps tight schedules on track across plots and problem-solving ensures projects stay on track despite challenges. Quality control ensures compliance with Building Regulations and NHBC standards, health and safety underpins everything – promoting a strong culture and safe working practices – and communication is critical for coordinating subcontractors, clients and internal teams.

l-r: Jade Brigham (Business Support Executive at Homes by Carlton), Lynne Hicks and Beth Gregory (Customer Care Coordinator at Homes by Carlton).

Q. What's the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part is seeing a development come together from groundwork to completed homes, knowing that I haveve led the team to deliver it safely, on programme and to a high standard. In housebuilding, we’re handing over homes, not just "plots".

Q. What has been a standout moment in your career so far?

In 2020 I was finally a Site Manager, managing a development of 50 plots. I responsible for programme, quality, budget, and team across multiple plots. The project had tight deadlines and complex technical elements.

What made it particularly rewarding was applying the knowledge I gained from completing my degree in Construction Project Management while working full-time on site.

Seeing the final homes handed over to satisfied customers, delivered on time, on budget and to a high standard was a great feeling. It reinforced why I enjoy housebuilding.

Q. What advice would you give to women considering a career in construction or housebuilding?

I would say: go for it. Construction is often seen as male-dominated, but what matters most is knowledge, attitude and leadership, all of which are open to anyone.

I would always recommend following the route I did which was to gain practical site experience to understand how projects are delivered, and invest in education like an HNC or degree to open doors to management roles. Don’t be afraid to take on challenges, seek mentors and be confident in your abilities. 

Q. The theme for this year’s Women in Construction Week is “Level Up, Build Strong” — what does this mean to you?

For me, ‘Level Up, Build Strong’ is about growth — building skills, confidence and leadership in construction.

WIC Week celebrates women in the industry and inspires the next generation, showing that with dedication and experience, there are no limits to what you can achieve.

Lynne’s journey — from Electrical Apprentice to Senior Site Manager — is a powerful example of what determination, continuous learning and strong leadership can achieve. Her commitment to quality, safety and teamwork ensures every development she leads reflects the high standards Homes by Carlton is proud to deliver.