Katie Beddows

Delivering projects on time, within budget and against agreed objectives is at the heart of what I do. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, I choose the project management methods that best suit the needs of each project.

Building strong relationships with stakeholders at every level allows me to keep people informed, engaged and working towards the same goals. By identifying and managing risks early, I help projects stay on track and minimise potential issues before they become problems. Alongside overseeing day-to-day progress, I’m always willing to roll up my sleeves and get involved wherever needed to keep things moving and achieve successful outcomes.

My degree in Law taught me how to work through large amounts of complex information, identify what really matters and turn it into something clear and practical. It also helped me develop the ability to think critically, solve problems and create realistic plans that move things forward.

I naturally think in a logical way, starting with the bigger picture before exploring the detail. Understanding how different people, processes and priorities connect helps me make informed decisions and keep projects aligned with their overall goals.

One of my strengths is building relationships with people. I’m quick to understand the mood of a room, adapt my communication to suit different audiences and listen carefully to what people need. This helps me build trust, bring people on board and support them through change, especially when they’re facing challenges.

Over the last few years, I’ve trained in a range of project management approaches, including PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma and Agile. That means I can choose the right methodology, or combine elements of each, to suit the needs of a project rather than relying on a single approach.

I particularly enjoy the early stages of a project, where ideas begin to take shape. Working with others to understand priorities, define objectives and turn ambitions into achievable plans is something I find genuinely rewarding. Seeing those ideas become real through thoughtful planning and successful delivery is one of the most satisfying parts of my role.

I began my career on a graduate programme in local government, where I gained an early grounding in project management and the opportunity to work alongside senior decision-makers. That experience gave me a strong foundation and led to a varied career delivering projects across the public sector, including local government, environmental regulation and the NHS.

One of the highlights of my career has been designing and launching a project management toolkit for a newly formed organisation. Built around the Government’s Green Book principles for managing projects and programmes, it provided a consistent approach that teams could use to deliver projects more effectively.

On a personal level, supporting the initial COVID-19 response remains one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I helped establish a local support service for people who were shielding, working closely with local organisations and charities to make sure help reached those who needed it most. Seeing the difference that work made to people’s lives reinforced why I enjoy project management so much, and it’s something I continue to carry with me into every project I lead.

I believe the best solutions start with listening. Before suggesting ideas or making plans, I take the time to understand the problem and hear about people’s experiences. Whether I’m working with senior leaders, colleagues or service users, I focus on building strong relationships based on trust, open communication and a genuine understanding of different perspectives.

Attention to detail is one of my strengths, and I particularly enjoy work that involves writing, reviewing and improving documents. Whether I’m developing a business case, bringing together information from different sources or editing complex content into something clear and easy to understand, I take pride in producing accurate, well-structured work that helps others make informed decisions.