Meet the Mum who helped to build Birmingham Grand Central and the World’s Biggest Primark

She’s the project manager behind Birmingham’s iconic Grand Central and world's biggest Primark shopping centre.

Mum-of-two Paige Hooper oversaw the installing of the eye-catching roof of Grand Central. She was also involved in project managing the city’s new flagship Primark, which was formerly the Pavilions shopping centre. It is now the largest Primark in the world and has attracted millions of shoppers since opening in April 2019.

Paige’s father worked as a director in a construction firm and she eventually followed him into the previously-male dominated industry, later gaining a degree in project management.  Paige, 31, said: “They were both very prestigious projects to work on and I’m very proud to have been involved.

 “When I left school, I was not sure what I wanted to do, but I did not want to go to university at that time. My dad was a director of a construction firm and he was always so busy, so I thought I did not want to do what he was doing! But low and behold, here I am! I’m working on five live projects and have a team looking after 25 other projects, which I visit when they need my support.”

Now Paige is using her extensive construction industry skills at Severn Trent, where she is heading up a new £3m project in Worcestershire. She is leading the huge investment scheme at Lower Moor Sewage Treatment Works, to boost capacity and improve performance.

The project will see new holding tanks and other infrastructure introduced at the site which lies between Evesham and Pershore. The works, due to be completed by the end of the year, will ensure the rural treatment works can deal with rising demand from an increasing population.

Speaking about her new role Paige said: “I had always worked in project management in construction but joined Severn Trent in September 2022 and really enjoy it here. The water industry was new to me at first but you learn all about it very quickly in this job.”

She added: “At Lower Moor, my role is to liaise with contractors and bring everything together to ensure the project completes on time to the right quality and to budget and most importantly safely. We are just starting to mobilise onto site and the first spade should be in the ground within weeks.”

Project managing means liaising with contractors and stakeholders, including MPs and councillors, as well as linking up with Severn Trent customer teams to keep locals informed. Dealing with logistics to bring the right workers and materials onto site at the right time is also crucial.

Paige said: “I make sure everything is delivered when it should be delivered, including on issues like health and safety. Being a project manager means you are always busy and the job is very varied, which makes it a very rewarding and excitement career.”

Yet despite her demanding role Paige says she is still able to enjoy plenty of quality time with kids Harry, five and Ethan, two, with her husband of eight years Nathan, an electrical engineer.

Paige is sharing her story as Severn Trent shines a light on its people who help it serve their customers across the West Midlands. She said: “I have to say I’ve found the work life balance at Severn Trent is brilliant. I never thought I’d be that parent who can drop the kids off at school in the morning before heading to work, but I am.

“Joining Severn Trent was the best career move I’ve made for me and my family - and it’s the best team I’ve ever worked with. It is a job that ticks all the right boxes. No two days are the same in my job and you are always learning something new. I’ve always believed that if you are not learning, then you are probably in the wrong job.”

The Lower Moor scheme will include constructing a new inlet pumping station and new primary settlement tanks. Works have now begun on site, with a completion date of April next year.