Rebecca O'Donnell

Said the following about Lucy Robinson:

“Lucy gained the position of a Degree Apprentice Project manager in 2022 with Faithful and Gould. Her ability to make a positive impact on all tasks she has been involved in has been widely acknowledged. Lucy's willingness to listen and to proactively apply her learnings is invaluable to her colleagues, who have entrusted her with additional responsibilities as her skill set continues to develop.

Lucy’s journey at HS2 began in the Rail Systems Directorate, supporting the development of the Alliance (RSA). Her contribution in shaping the organisational structure, developing deliverables, and establishing reporting processes, have formed the foundations of the Alliance. She continues to play an integral role, through driving and streamlining communication and supporting effective collaboration from a variety of key stakeholders.

Lucy’s phenomenal work and dedication continued to be noticed which led to her appointment as Project Manager for the RSA CAD Common Data Environment workstream. This integrated CAD digital platform has the potential to significantly transform the entirety of Rail Systems across the network. Lucy understood the necessity that this programme was a success and accepted this additional responsibility to apply and test her project management capabilities that she had developed. Lucy consistently displays respect towards others which has enabled her to build strong relationships within the team, creating an environment that encourages creativity and a safe space for challenging assumptions and welcoming new ideas. She now plays a pivotal role in facilitating scenario testing, collaborating with Bentley, and addressing technical challenges. Through her ever-improving familiarity with the position, Lucy has been able to effectively manage and work to resolve difficulties as they arise. This has continued to ensure that her project milestones are met and has provided Lucy with a wealth of knowledge in the project management of computerised systems. On reflection of the work, she has completed so far, Lucy appreciates how valuable this experience is in modernising the industry.

Having successfully completed her first year of her Construction Management degree, Lucy has become adept at finding ways of applying these academic skills to her work at HS2. This has allowed her to develop and implement newly learnt strategies and to try new ways of working to ensure her projects remain on track. Being part of a team where she can witness the tangible impact of these advancements motivates her and builds confidence in her ability to deliver.

Lucy also secured the position of Social Value Co-Lead at Faithful+Gould. She was a natural choice for this position due to her organisational skills and ability to drive change and measure the impact of the change. Lucy understands the value in programmes that promote sustainability and support local communities, especially when infrastructure projects can lead to additional positive externalities, which is in complete alignment between her HS2 and F+G roles. The latest event she organised and attended was at Spark Hill Foodbank in Birmingham, one of the largest in the UK. The team volunteered in sorting, dating, and boxing up food donations in preparation for those who need it most. Lucy adopts a safety-first approach in all situations by guiding attendees through completing AOS (Atkins Operating Safely) forms when working outside their usual office environment. She provides guidance and direction to all sectors within Complex Infrastructure and leads many interventions across the business. To do this, she regularly delivers presentations informing colleagues of the importance of Social Value and how best we can all contribute through volunteering, joining programmes, or even by changing aspects of our personal lives.

Lucy is keen to ensure other apprentices have a similar positive experience. Her strong commitment to promoting the Early Careers network at F+G is evident through her involvement in the new apprentice induction week and ongoing support to colleagues. Lucy also actively contributes to her P3M discipline where she analyses feedback from new recruits and regularly proposes concepts to further improve the onboarding process.

As evident from the success she has achieved over the last year, Lucy has proven her ability to apply knowledge from her degree to all projects she has been assigned. She serves as an inspiration to her colleagues and is motivated to continue developing her skillset throughout her journey at HS2.“