Welcome to Paula, our Health and Safety manager

Stonebridge Homes welcomes new Health & Safety manager with inspiring career journey

Stonebridge Homes is proud to welcome a new recruit to its growing team. Paula Clark joins the house-builder as Health and Safety Manager, and brings with her a career path that has been anything but conventional.

After following her husband’s career in the army and living in Germany for eight years, Paula worked as a practice manager in a medical centre. It was there that a routine health and safety assessment sparked her interest in the field. Motivated by curiosity and a desire to make a difference, she sucessfully undertook health and safety qualifications and transitioned into the construction industry upon returning to the UK.

Her first role was as a Trainee Assistant Group Health and Safety Advisor with Persimmon Homes, where she quickly made her mark, earning a Special Achievement Award for Construction Excellence in the North East. While working, she continued to study for construction-specific health and safety qualifications, including NEBOSH, and demonstrating her commitment to professional growth.

Paula later joined a consultancy firm as a Health and Safety Inspector but missed the dynamic, problem-solving nature of site work. This led her to Gleeson Homes, where she served as Divisional Health and Safety Manager before applying to Stonebridge Homes.

“I’ve always admired Stonebridge Homes for the quality and finish of their homes, they build on another level,” she said. “This role gives me the chance to work with great people and enjoy getting to know everyone on site, whilst delivering the highest standards of health and safety, and doing a job I genuinely love.”

Known for her no-nonsense, straight-talking style, she brings both warmth and professionalism to every site she visits. Living in County Durham, Paula will cover a wide area from Morpeth down to Market Rasen, working in a hybrid capacity that also allows her to see more of her son who lives in Yorkshire.

“It’s never too late to retrain,” she added. “I’ve been an Avon lady and a dinner lady, but now I’ve found a fulfilling career where I get to make a real impact every day.”

Her new colleagues are equally enthusiastic. Stuart Marshall, Operations Director at Stonebridge Homes commented: “Paula brings a fresh energy and a wealth of experience to the team. She’s got a brilliant way of connecting with people, firm when she needs to be, but always fair. It’s great to see more women stepping into leadership roles in construction. She’s a fantastic role model and a real asset to Stonebridge.”