Women in Construction Week offers an opportunity to reflect on how the construction industry continues to evolve. This year’s theme — Level Up and Build Strong — speaks directly to building control, a profession defined by accountability, technical rigour and professional judgement.

At Salus, levelling up is not symbolic. It is practical. It is visible in career progression, regulatory responsibility and the authority our people bring to every project.

Across our offices, women are contributing at every level of building control consultancy — strengthening governance, shaping compliance decisions and supporting the delivery of safer buildings across the UK.

Progression Through Professional Growth in Building Control

Joy Tsui, Senior Project Surveyor – Watford Office

Joy’s route into building control reflects how many careers in the profession develop: through exposure, curiosity and progression.

She joined Salus as a part-time administrator while studying criminology at university. Building control was not something she had previously encountered — highlighting how little visibility the profession often has outside the construction sector.

As her role developed, so did her interest in the technical side of the business.

“I’d always handled plans and processed documents. I’d pick them up and ask questions. It started to interest me.”

Joy undertook training and transitioned into a technical role at a time when the regulatory framework operated very differently to today.

“It was almost like starting again. The construction side and the regulations were new to me — but that challenge is what made it engaging.”

Now a Senior Project Surveyor (MCABE, IEng), Joy works within the post-Building Safety Act framework, where increased duty holder accountability has reshaped industry practice.

“The biggest shift has been accountability,” she explains. “Designers and contractors are far more aware that they must present compliant proposals. Our role is to review and assess — not to design solutions for them.”

Her responsibilities include detailed plan checks, consultation with statutory authorities, site inspections at defined stages and final certification where compliance has been demonstrated.

It requires clarity, precision and confidence in professional judgement.

“If I’m weighing up something complex, I can speak to colleagues or directors directly. There’s open discussion. That strengthens decision-making.”

Professional judgement is sharpened in environments where technical dialogue is encouraged — a culture that underpins progression at Salus.

Technical Authority in a Changing Regulatory Landscape

Zoe Witts, Project Surveyor – Swindon Office

Zoe’s career path began with a commercial apprenticeship before progressing into procurement roles and ultimately into building control.

Today, as a Project Surveyor, she operates within a strengthened regulatory framework that demands clear boundaries and independent compliance assessment.

“We used to provide advice as part of the service,” she explains. “Now it’s firmly about checking for compliance.”

This distinction is significant. The evolution of building safety legislation means designers and contractors must demonstrate due diligence before works commence. Building control professionals assess proposals against statutory requirements, maintaining independence throughout.

Zoe has seen this shift embed across her client base.

“They’re becoming more conscientious. They understand how our role has changed.”

Her day-to-day work includes reviewing applications, issuing plan check reports, consulting relevant authorities and attending site at agreed stages. It requires disciplined workload management and attention to detail — ensuring projects are properly prepared before commencement.

Building control demands resilience, technical understanding and the ability to communicate decisions clearly. It is a profession built on responsibility.

Operational Leadership as the Foundation of Compliance

Wendy Hill, Regional Administration Manager

Career progression at Salus extends beyond inspection roles. Effective regulatory delivery depends on strong operational infrastructure.

Wendy’s professional background began outside construction. Originally working as a microbiology lab technician in Northern Ireland, she retrained in administration to build a transferable career.

Today, as Regional Administration Manager, Wendy oversees the systems, coordination and governance that enable technical teams to operate effectively.

Compliance relies not only on professional judgement but on accurate documentation, structured processes and dependable oversight.

Operational leadership ensures consistency across projects and regions, strengthening the framework within which surveyors exercise technical authority.

Strong teams are supported by strong systems — and those systems are led by experienced professionals.

Technical Administration as a Professional Discipline

Kayley Waters, Technical Administrator

Technical administration within building control is a disciplined, detail-driven function that directly supports regulatory integrity.

Kayley joined Salus with extensive administrative experience, including roles within the pharmaceutical sector and the NHS. What attracted her to Salus was the complexity and challenge of the role.

“The day-to-day looked like a challenge. I like to be busy and I like to be challenged.”

Her responsibilities include supporting Project Surveyors by managing applications, verifying documentation, maintaining accurate system records and ensuring information is accessible throughout the regulatory process.

“We provide the support in the background. Surveyors attend site, and we ensure everything is processed and recorded properly so it’s ready when needed.”

In a regulated industry, precision matters. Accurate documentation underpins compliance decisions and final certification. Technical administration is therefore integral to safe delivery.

Kayley also highlights a defining feature of Salus’ culture — accessibility.

“When I was training, I could ring anyone in the company — surveyors, associate directors, directors. That openness makes a difference.”

In an environment where accountability is central, clarity and collaboration reinforce professional standards.

Strength Through Accountability in Building Safety

Building control has historically been male-dominated, partly due to traditional site-based career routes. However, the profession is increasingly defined by formal qualifications, structured training and regulatory expertise.

Visibility matters. So does progression.

At Salus, levelling up means:

• Moving from administration into technical pathways
• Developing specialist expertise within a strengthened regulatory regime
• Leading operational functions that support compliance
• Exercising independent professional judgement
• Contributing to safer buildings across the UK

The evolution of building safety legislation has placed greater emphasis on duty holder responsibility and independent review. That shift has strengthened the building control profession.

It has reinforced the value of disciplined, accountable and technically confident professionals.

Across Salus, women are contributing at every level — shaping compliance outcomes, strengthening governance structures and supporting the delivery of safe, compliant buildings.

“Level Up and Build Strong” is not a slogan. It reflects careers built on responsibility, strengthened by challenge and defined by professional integrity.