Calfordseaden: Hannah’s Blossoming Career in Sustainability

Hannah Martindale joined calfordseaden in 2024 as a Junior Sustainability Consultant and recently celebrated her one-year anniversary at the Practice! Hannah reflects on her first year in the construction industry, her role, ambitions for the future, and provides advice for women looking to join the industry.

Educational Background and Why Sustainability

"I graduated in 2021 from the University of Reading with a First in Human and Physical Geography. As a geography graduate, I have always been aware of the importance of sustainability in today’s climate, which led me to focus my dissertation on sustainability in the fashion industry.

I have always wanted to work in sustainability, and living in Australia for 18 months further reinforced that. After visiting the Great Barrier Reef and various national parks, it was a real eye opener and inspired me to help make a positive change in the sustainability sector. I find my role very rewarding as I know that my work at calfordseaden helps reduce environmental impact and improves living standards in the UK."

Responsibilities as a Junior Sustainability Consultant

"On a typical day, my role involves using software such as IES VE, Revit, and AutoCAD, as well as carrying out Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) assessments and overheating assessments. These assessments are vital in ensuring compliance with Building Regulations, such as Part L and Part O.

SAP Assessments consists of inputting measurements and building specifications into Elmhurst Software to ensure full compliance and an overheating assessment involves creating a thermal model, assigning constructions, thermal templates and opening profiles, running simulations, and reviewing the results. These two assessments are then eventually put into a report to summarise compliance, highlight the overall performance of the building, and provide areas of improvement. The report is then sent to the client and forms part of a planning application."

Settling in and Work-Life Balance

"From my first day at calfordseaden, everyone was welcoming and supportive, which made it easy to settle in and feel part of the company. The Sustainability team have really good team ethic, and someone is always willing to help, which provides a positive working environment.

In terms of finding the right work-life balance, the flexibility available here is very helpful. Work is allocated with deadlines in mind for each team member, providing a healthy challenge without being overwhelming."

Favourite Project

"My favourite project is the first project I worked on, Kennington Park. This involved conducting a SAP Assessment for a small apartment block comprising nine homes. This project stands out for me because with this being the first project I worked on, it made me feel part of the team and was a great stepping stone in helping me learn on the job. My first few weeks mainly consisted of training and reading so it was a great opportunity to apply what I had learnt onto a project, which I found exciting."

Aims and Aspirations at calfordseaden

"I aim to continue to learn and progress in my role, as I am learning new things each day. I look forward to also being part of the design team in the early stages of projects. In the long term, I aim to become a qualified Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Assessor."

Advice for Women in Construction

“A piece of advice I would like to provide for women looking to get into the construction industry is to not let the fear of the stereotypical challenges that you may face deter you. Whilst it is still a heavily male-dominated industry, it is an evolving industry and strides are being made to promote equality. I would also say to use any challenge as motivation to help be a part of a more inclusive industry, break the norms, and be empowered as a woman in the construction industry."