Meet the team… Courtney McLoughlin
We are who we are because of our fantastic roster of passionate professionals who enable us to deliver cutting-edge work for our clients. In our “Meet the Team” series, we’re pulling back the curtain and introducing you to some of the people who make the magic happen.
This month, we’re speaking to Design Manager, Courtney McLoughlin.
What do you do at Mansell?
I’m a Design manager. This means I manage the Metframe (and other) design processes through from initial client engagement through to completion on site.
I make sure we hit critical project milestones, maintain technical accuracy, and ensure the design team and clients stay informed and happy. A huge benefit we offer to clients is project certainty and it’s my job to set projects up to achieve that. With a light gauge steel frame approach, considered design and frames delivered in factory settings, projects can be delivered with certainty and peace of mind.
How did you get into working as a Design Manager?
I studied Architecture at the Manchester School of Architecture, graduating from my undergraduate degree in 2014. After that, I completed the mandatory year out in practice at Halliday Meecham Architects, working primarily on higher education projects. I then returned to the University of Manchester for my Master's, graduating in 2017.
After completing my Master's, I continued in practice and qualified as an architect (RIBA Part 3) in 2019, gaining experience at Halliday Meecham and Shepherd Robson across sectors such as higher education, healthcare and residential schemes. During this time, I worked on projects like School of Science, Engineering and Environment (University of Salford) and Lumina Village in Old Trafford.
In 2023, I joined Mansell Building Solutions as a Design Coordinator. I always knew that I wanted to work contractor / sub-contractor side. I love seeing the projects I’ve worked on come to fruition and with Mansell, we get to see them become reality much quicker than when I was working in architectural practices. The tangible progress I see on site each week is a massive motivator.
What do you think makes a good Design Manager?
For me, a good Design Manager needs excellent problem-solving skills, especially when juggling multiple issues simultaneously. Being able to prioritise effectively, keep projects on track, and resolve design clashes swiftly are where I provide the most value.
Also, staying proactive is essential and catching and addressing potential problems before they escalate into costly delays provides massive benefits to the project team and the client.
What's good about working at Mansell?
I’ve loved my time working at Mansell since joining. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming, creating a genuinely collaborative environment where you’re empowered to do your best work. Construction has a reputation for being adversarial or overly competitive, but at Mansell, it feels like we're all pulling in the same direction.
Being in a smaller team is empowering, and the exposure to so many varied projects and clients means I’m constantly learning and developing professionally.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of work?
I'm a big football fan and love both watching my native Burnley and playing a bit of 5-aside! We’ve had a few 5-aside games going with Mansell and it’s a great laugh. With the summer around the corner, I’m hoping we can get it started again soon.
For me, it’s more about the fun and camaraderie than the scoreline.
-
It's been great getting to know Courtney a little better and seeing how her unique background and interests contribute to their role here at Mansell. Stay tuned for more insights from other team members in future editions of our "Meet the team" series.