Frazer Lowrie FIoL.
Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental Manager at Valley Group Ltd.
What do you do now?
I lead, advise, and support the Board of Directors and our Operations teams on all matters of Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental across our divisions. Ultimately, I help support and enable my colleagues to work, safely, efficiently and improve each day.
Where did your career start?
Like most people in Health and Safety, I sort of fell into my role. In school, I had planned to go to university to study Business Management, but that would’ve required being away from home, and studying in England which I then decided against. I left school and completed an apprenticeship with the aim of being a Project Manager; I wanted to build football stadiums and high-rise buildings. When working on a busy construction site, I realsied that the life of a Project Manager wasn’t for me. I did however enjoy interacting with teams of people, looking at new ways of working safely and helping others to improve.
This has led me to where I am today. I’ve worked in various roles over the past 9 years in the Construction, Engineering and Manufacturing industries which have all been focused on health and safety, quality and the environment, I have always taken an active leadership role within projects.
Has there been a stage in your life where you first appreciated what great leadership looked like?
At a young age, my mum and gran played an active role in my local school and community; they were both always the first to help people and support others, actively seeking how they could help. This inspired me at such a young age to the look up to leaders and respect people from all walks of life - I wanted to help and support others too.
This is partly why in my career in leadership, I always try to support others wherever I can.
Do you have any examples of what you have done to develop yourself as a leader?
Whilst working through a Level 6 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety, I’m also focusing on improving my soft skills. With the nature of my role and working in the construction industry you get used to people ducking and diving whenever they hear that health and safety are on-site. I spend a lot of time getting to know my colleagues and teams to let people see that I’m only human and that I’m here to help. I’m not in the business of telling people how to do their job or telling people “no”. I’m here to help find the quickest way to carry out their work safely - and to help get our teams home safe and sound.
Getting to know people on a personal level means that they are comfortable speaking to me and will come to me with any concerns they need help with. This keeps me connected with the what day-to-day business is like for our teams. Over the past few years, I’ve completed training courses on behavioral safety, leadership, coaching, and mentoring and I've recently completed a Level 7 certificate in Strategic Leadership and Management.
I spend time listening to podcasts, reading books, and watching documentaries and have a particular interest in how teams and leaders can be successful during times of crisis, remain calm and make the right decisions at the right time.
How do you think Leadership has benefitted you?
I’ve been fortunate to have worked with a lot of interesting and knowledgeable people on some complex projects throughout the UK and across the globe. In my role, I can influence the “bigger picture'' of the organisation, whilst supporting our operational teams on a day-to-day basis. I always enjoy seeing and meeting our teams, getting to know one another and seeing how everyone plays an important part in our success as an organisation. At 27, I feel that I’m just getting started in my leadership journey...