Victoria Helps Build Brighter Business Future
7 April 2010
Assistant Quantity Surveyor Victoria Wall of VINCI Construction UK, a graduate of the University of Derby who is now working on the building of its new Enterprise Centre.
I'm often the only woman on site but the guys around me have always been great.
”Victoria Wall.
A woman who switched careers thanks to an innovative University of Derby course is now using what she learnt to help build its new business centre.
Victoria Wall is one of the few women Assistant Quantity Surveyors in the UK construction industry. Quantity Surveyors manage the costs on a building project and ensure the best quality materials are used, from start to finish.
The VINCI Construction UK employee was one of the first graduates of an Advanced Diploma in Quantity Surveying course, launched jointly by the University and her company in 2007. Applicants train as Assistant Quantity Surveyors with an initial six week course followed by on the job instruction.
Victoria is now part of the team building the University's new Enterprise Centre in Bridge Street, Derby. It is close to completion and will become the headquarters of the University's business-to-business arm, University of Derby Corporate (UDC), from August 1, 2010.
Victoria, 30, of Belper, said: "I was working for Derby City Council and was sponsored to go on the University's Foundation degree in Civil Engineering. Then I heard about the course Derby was doing with VINCI to get more undergraduates into quantity surveying.
"I enjoyed the diploma course. I started as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor with Norwest Holst (part of VINCI Construction UK) in September 2007. I'm often the only woman on site but the guys around me have always been great."
Commenting on the UDC Enterprise Centre project Victoria added: "This is the first building project I've been on, from start to finish. It's an interesting one because it has a number of environmental features, such as rainwater collectors."
The Enterprise Centre will offer higher level workforce skills training and encourage new start-up businesses. It will house a conference facility, training suites, offices and an 'Innovation Zone' for start-up businesses.
Dawn Whitemore, Head of University of Derby Corporate, said: "We plan for the new Enterprise Centre to become the region's premier site for business training and encouraging entrepreneurship, aiding the local economy.
"It's fitting that the skills Victoria learnt through the University, to enhance her own career, are now being employed to create UDC's headquarters."
