Changing employers can be a big decision, particularly when the move means leaving an area in which you feel established to take on new and more complex challenges.

When Claire Lindsay joined the Salus Building Control team in Hinckley in June 2026, that was exactly the step she was taking.

Claire joined Salus as a Class 2D Registered Building Inspector, looking for greater exposure to commercial projects and a clearer route for professional development. Although she admits to feeling nervous before starting, her experience of the recruitment process, onboarding and support from colleagues soon reassured her that she had made the right move.

A career built around challenge and variety

Claire began working in the construction industry at 16, when she was employed as a trainee building surveyor after leaving school.

After eight years in building surveying and a brief move into property management, she applied for what she believed was an assistant building surveyor position. During the interview, she discovered that it was actually a role in Building Control.

Fortunately, the work immediately appealed to her.

“I think it’s the variety that has kept me in Building Control,” Claire explains. “You know that you’re making a difference by helping to make buildings safe and compliant. There are reasons behind the regulations, whether that is the safety of the people using a building, structural safety or fire safety.”

Claire progressed from trainee level, gained further experience and achieved chartered status. However, after spending several years working predominantly on domestic projects, she felt ready for a new challenge.

What attracted Claire to Salus?

Career progression was at the heart of Claire’s decision.

“I had been working mainly on domestic projects for six or seven years and wanted greater exposure to commercial work,” she says. “I knew Salus focused on commercial projects, so I thought I would throw myself in at the deep end. I knew I would get the training and exposure needed to work on some much bigger projects.”

A recommendation also helped to put Salus on her radar. Claire already knew someone working within the Hinckley office and respected their professional ability. Seeing that they had chosen Salus gave her greater confidence in the company.

The role itself was advertised specifically as a training and development opportunity. Salus was clear that Claire would work closely with experienced colleagues who could help her progress into further registration categories.

That clarity was particularly important. Claire was not expected to arrive knowing everything; the role recognised the experience she already possessed while providing the structure needed to help her advance.

A recruitment process that felt genuine

While the opportunities attracted Claire to the position, it was the people she met during the interview process who ultimately convinced her that Salus was the right choice.

“It was the people,” she says. “They were friendly and normal, but also really knowledgeable and approachable. They just seemed like a great team to work with.”

The interview gave Claire a detailed understanding of Salus, how the company operated and what she could expect if she accepted the role. Communication from the People Team was equally welcoming and focused on what Salus could genuinely offer.

“I just felt that genuineness from them,” Claire says. “Anyone can make a company sound good during recruitment, but I haven’t arrived and thought that Salus is different from what was portrayed. What they told me is true.”

What was the Salus onboarding experience like?

Once Claire accepted the position, the process leading up to her first day was straightforward.

Her offer, contract and new-starter information were provided promptly, and the team discussed everything she would need to begin working. This included IT equipment, home-working requirements and even a choice between an Android phone and an iPhone.

Claire remembers being extremely nervous on her first morning, but she quickly found the atmosphere welcoming and relaxed.

Her first few days included structured inductions and introductions to different areas of the business. During her first week, several colleagues contacted her individually through Microsoft Teams to introduce themselves, explain their roles and help her understand how the wider Salus team worked.

One comment from her new colleagues particularly stayed with her.

“They told me it felt as though I had been there forever and that I had just fitted in,” she recalls. “I had only been there for around a month, so that really helped me relax.”

Reena Ford, People Advisor at Salus, explains:

“We know that joining a new company can feel like a leap, particularly when someone is also stretching themselves professionally. Our aim is to make that move feel supported from the first conversation—not just through the paperwork and induction, but by ensuring every new employee has the right people around them once they begin.”

Claire’s experience reflects an approach to onboarding that extends beyond the first week. At Salus, it continues through mentoring, peer review and the everyday support provided by managers and colleagues.

Supported by a wider Building Control team

Claire has a designated mentor, Nigel Parkinson, Associate Director, who provides day-to-day training and accompanies her on site inspections. However, she has found that support is not limited to one person.

Whether she has a question about plan assessments, inspections, technical matters or Salus systems, she can approach experienced inspectors throughout the Hinckley office.

Her work on higher-class projects is supported through training and peer review, allowing her to develop her knowledge while ensuring she always has experienced colleagues around her.

Claire is also refreshingly honest about the fact that, after only a couple of months, she is still finding her rhythm. Moving from an area in which she had considerable experience into more complex commercial work inevitably brought moments of uncertainty.

“You go from feeling like you’re at the top of your game in domestic work to coming into commercial Building Control and sometimes thinking, ‘What’s that?’ It can knock your confidence,” she explains. “But everyone has been really supportive.”

That combination of challenge and support is central to the experience Salus wants to offer. New employees are given meaningful opportunities without being left to face unfamiliar work alone.

Progression that has already begun

Claire expected to spend at least six months settling in before receiving projects that would contribute directly towards her progression. Instead, she was given an appropriate project supporting her development towards Class 2C within her first two months.

She has also been exposed to a wide range of commercial environments and given opportunities to work on higher-class projects within a supported and peer-reviewed structure.

“The exposure I’ve had already is amazing,” she says. “It has been over and above what I expected.”

For Claire, Salus has delivered on the promises made during recruitment: access to complex commercial work, structured development and support from experienced professionals.

Is Salus worth making the move to?

Asked what she would say to another Registered Building Inspector considering a career with Salus, Claire’s advice is straightforward.

“Join Salus. You’re surrounded by such a wealth of knowledge and professional people. Everyone takes pride in what they do, values their clients and wants to deliver work to a high standard. It’s great to be part of that.”

For Building Control professionals ready to take the next step, Claire’s experience demonstrates that making a move does not mean being expected to know everything from day one. With the right managers, colleagues and development opportunities around you, it can be the beginning of an exciting new stage in your career.

Explore the latest Building Control careers at Salus and discover where your next move could take you.