Claire Nicholson

Document Controller at Arup in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Can you describe your professional experience? 

I have a HNC in Business and of course my newly achieved Lead Document Control Certification.  I have worked in a small number of businesses since leaving school at the age of 16 and my background has always been in administration. 

I started working at Arup in 2007 as a PA and Team Secretary to our Buildings Group and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

In January 2013 I returned from maternity leave to a brand new role, as a full time Document Controller which required me to take a big leap of faith. I’m very pleased to say since I’ve committed to it I’ve never looked back. 

Which Consepsys course did you attend and when?

In June 2015, I attended the Lead Document Controller course in London. When I came across the course with Consepsys I discussed with my manager the possibility of attending and after reading the course content together carefully, we both agreed this was going to be a very positive experience for me.  

What did you think about the Consepsys course? How did it help you in your current role and career development?

I remember coming home from the course with bags of enthusiasm and a toolbox of ideas to implement in my role.  I asked my manager for a catch up on my return and we spent an hour or so happily chatting and agreeing all of the ideas I was keen to start putting into place. 

Since attending the course, I feel my confidence as a Document Controller has increased to no end. I feel that I am operating differently now, perhaps more strategically maybe and I’m always looking for ways to improve on quality. I now hold document control reviews with our project managers to ensure we are adhering to our project plans.

I took part in the course with several other Document Controllers from around the world and we all supported one another by openly sharing our experiences - even now, six months down the line, we still keep in touch.

The course was fantastic, the content was very relevant and the hand-outs and training facilities were first-class. The exam at the end of the course was challenging but it made it all the more rewarding when I got home and received the good news of the results and the certificate in the post. The course was a sound investment for our business and it did not disappoint.  The next step for me is the online ‘Document Control Audit’ module and I can’t wait to get started on it!