Speakers

Sophie Nicholls is the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme Manager for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (MTCBC). Sophie began working on the Pen Y Dre project in September 2021 when she began her role in MTCBC following five years of successful project management of education capital projects in Rhondda Cynon Taf. As an APM qualified project manager she has managed several school refurbishment and new build projects in both secondary and primary school settings. She is responsible for; ensuring that MTCBC education capital projects secure funding through the five-stage business case model; developing the scope of works with buy in from all stakeholders; monitoring progress throughout the project to ensure education standards are met; and ensuring that the projects realise all projected benefits. The introduction of the Net Zero Carbon targets set by Welsh Government for major refurbishments provided a new challenge for Sophie and she hopes to share the lessons learned through this project with colleagues across the sector.