Kier, a leading UK infrastructure services, construction and property group, has made two new appointments to its senior leadership team. Tracey Collins is appointed to a newly created role of Head of emerging talent, diversity & inclusion while Tracey McNamara joins as Group Procurement Director.
Tracey Collins has held a number of roles across Kier and has been the Group’s Head of diversity & inclusion since March 2022. In her new expanded role, she will now be responsible for setting and embedding the Group’s emerging talent strategy, critical for meeting the growing demand for skills to deliver the UK’s ambitious programme of infrastructure. Tracey will report to Louisa Finlay, Chief people officer.
The CITB estimates that up to 225,000 new workers will be needed by 2027 to support the construction pipeline in the UK and, in this new role, Tracey will be driving the ambitions of Kier to attract and retain talent, including apprentices and graduates, as well as those wanting to gain work experience within the industry.
Since becoming Head of diversity & inclusion at Kier, Tracey has delivered a range of initiatives, including the successful rollout of Expect Respect, the behaviours expected across sites and offices.
Also joining Kier’s senior leadership team is Tracey McNamara as Group Procurement Director, where she will work with our business divisions to support Kier’s valued and extensive supply chain. Tracey will report to Simon Kesterton, Chief financial officer.
Tracey joins from Berry Global (formerly RPC Group plc), a plastic packaging manufacturer, where she spent twenty years and held the role of procurement director. In that role, she maximised supply chain opportunities and collaboration across 350 sites worldwide and developed and embedded supply chain strategies that aligned to the company’s sustainability goals.
Both these positions will support the Group’s purpose, to sustainably deliver infrastructure across the UK by creating new job and training opportunities.
Andrew Davies, Chief executive at Kier, states: “As an industry, we have an important role to play in the economic growth of the UK and it’s vital we are recruiting new people into construction as well as supporting our existing teams and supply chain partners.
“I am delighted Tracey Collins has taken on this new role, which will ensure we are recruiting and developing the very best and brightest talent. I am also delighted that Tracey McNamara joins us to oversee procurement and our strong partner relationships. I know both will play an important role in supporting our ambitions as a Group and ensure we have the very best resource to shape the country’s skylines.”
Tracey Collins, adds: “I am thrilled to be expanding my role to head up emerging talent as well as diversity & inclusion at Kier. I have worked for Kier for ten years now and I’m really proud to be one of many people who have been offered new opportunities for growth and development.
“Emerging talent is really important and I am really passionate about showing how brilliant our industry is, the opportunities available and that, at Kier, we have a culture where everyone feels they belong, can contribute and thrive.”
Tracey McNamara says: “Kier is a great business. The people are fantastic and truly care about delivering great projects and working collaboratively with its supply chain and clients. I have joined the business at a really exciting time and I am looking forward to working collaboratively with our partners to drive forwards the ambitions of the Group.”
