Sarah Taverner

Describe what the Mott Mac Life means to you in three words

Supportive, vibrant, positive 

What do you enjoy about working here?

I find it motivating to work with dynamic and talented individuals at Motts. It is a challenging environment where you can thrive. I am always learning at the company and I genuinely enjoy my job.

I have been fortunate to gain some long-lasting friendships across the global offices. Over the last two years I have had the opportunity to work on three high-profile programmes. I have also been able to progress my career with professional accreditations to develop my skill set.

Tell us about your specialism and why you chose it

I have spent over 8 years working in the rail sector and graduated with a Law degree initially. Prior to joining Motts, I worked in project management at Hitachi Rail, a Japanese rolling stock manufacturer of high-speed trains.

Rail is a diverse and constantly evolving sector. I chose to work in rail because I felt it offered an exciting and varied career. It is rewarding to see the tangible benefits to society of working on innovative transportation programmes.

Why did you choose Mott MacDonald as a company you wanted to be part of?

I was attracted to Mott Macdonald’s employee-owned company structure, strong reputation within the engineering sector and healthy company culture. The culture at the company is caring and supportive, with a strong focus on wellbeing. The culture speaks for itself, there is a clear focus on work life balance and staff are valued.

We are regularly featured on Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work lists. I felt the ethos of Mott MacDonald aligned with my own personal values and was the right fit.

What are your career highlights and achievements?

Attending the APM Awards in 2023 was a privilege. I attended on behalf of my project team, MWJV. The HS2 Phase 2b parliamentary programme was shortlisted as a nominee for the Innovation in Project Management award. I had been key in coordinating the submission and it was recognition of our collaborative efforts.

Presenting to University of Reading students on my career to date was a highlight. It felt rewarding to give something back to the next generation of project managers.

Are you involved in any additional initiatives at Mott MacDonald, aside from your day-to-day role?

I was the ECP Lead for Awards & Events last year. In this role, I volunteered to improve take-up and engagement within the Mott Macdonald transportation division on awards and events. It involved monthly reporting to the project sponsor and Senior Leadership transportation team on progress. The strategic goals of the project were to present to the industry the great work carried out by the division and to act as a catalyst for the department to celebrate success.