Despite English being her 6th language and in less than one year with the company, Nina Strangeways, is celebrating her promotion as Technical Manager at Peterborough-based Barratt and David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire.  

Originally from Mauritius and speaking French and Creole, and learning German, Nina moved to the UK at the age of fifteen where she attended Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in South Kensington – the only French speaking school in the UK. With a heritage of Indian grandparents she also learnt Hindi and Bhojpuri before finally learning English much later into her life.  

Nina studied Architecture in the UK for seven years and developed a reputation for her skilful approach to non-standard architecture in Cambridge, London as well as Mauritius for a further eight. She was headhunted to work on the housebuilder's Darwin Green development in Cambridge in 2019, before being appointed Technical Manager of the region. The now 35 year old is a shining example of young excellence within the construction industry.  

After eight years of consultancy, Nina joined McCarthy and Stone for four years before her role on Darwin Green in Cambridge. This development is an all-encompassing community, situated on Huntingdon Road in Cambridge, which is being developed by Barratt and David Wilson Homes. With cutting-edge amenities and modern architecture as the main focus for this exciting project, Nina excelled in her professional ability to bring such an ambitious plan to life.  

Nina, who was previously a Technical Project Manager for Darwin Green is now responsible for technical management across the entire division.

Nina said: “A number of reasons had brought me to Barratt and David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire. Firstly, within the industry I had never heard a bad word spoken about them as an employer.  

“I also think Darwin Green is very exciting. I was Technical Project Manager here since 2019 and as my background is in non-standard product, it just fit perfectly. We have lots of apartment blocks and features that require thinking outside of the box.”

Nina was promoted to Technical Manager after proving excellence as an architect on the Darwin Green project.

She added: “I've never been afraid to speak my mind as I was confident that the company would push my abilities regardless of age, gender, religion or colour. Barratt and David Wilson Homes is much more focused on ability and who is right for the job.

“This new role is brilliant because it's a lot more hands-on. I actually get to visit site once a week and see the construction going up. I also get to work on multiple sites and approach things from a strategic angle. It was an excellent opportunity that will hopefully let me grow alongside the division.”  

Barratt and David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire is currently building at Darwin Green in Cambridge, Hampton Water in Peterborough, Romans' Edge in Godmanchester and Northstowe.

For more information on Barratt Homes please visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.couk. For sales enquiries at any of the above developments, or to book an appointment please call 0333 355 8484 or 0333 355 8485.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. For further information about Barratt Homes please contact Emily Howett or Thomas Marriott 0116 247 1777 or emily@unsworthsugden.co.uk or thomas@unsworthsugden.co.uk  

2. Barratt and David Wilson Homes is part of Barratt Developments PLC, a FTSE100 company

4. Barratt was awarded a maximum five star rating for the eleventh consecutive year in the 2020 Home Builders Federation Customer Satisfaction Survey

5. Site managers working for Barratt Group won 92 awards for quality workmanship in the 2020 NHBC Pride in the Job Awards. Barratt has won more Pride in the Job awards than any other housebuilder for the last 16 years​.