Maxine Dudley
Study Type: Higher Education
Study Location: The Roundhouse
Subject Studied: Professional Construction
Derby College the right route for housebuilder Head of Technical, Maxine
Maxine Dudley, Head of Technical with UK housebuilder Linden Homes South West, left Derby College 30 years ago but still looks back fondly on her time there.
She took ONC then HNC Building Studies at the college part-time over five years while working as an architectural apprentice at Derek Latham Architects in Derby.
And Maxine, who moved to Devon from her home city of Derby 25 years ago, is in no doubt she took the right route into a long and rewarding professional construction career.
Maxine’s qualifications have opened many doors for her, and during her career she’s held a variety of interesting roles, including architectural technician in the estates department of Manchester University.
In more recent years she has worked in estates departments for local authorities and for several housebuilders, taking up her current position with Linden Homes South West 18 months ago.
Her department works on the technical elements of a new development, delivering comprehensive information so that the production team can start building.
This includes working on drawings for the house types, infrastructure and external works, as well as liaising with the legal team and statutory bodies to ensure Technical Agreements are in place.
Maxine is also actively involved in promoting and highlighting the benefits of a career in housebuilding and construction to women and has sat on the judging panel of the Women in Property’s National Student Awards.
I enjoyed my apprenticeship and my time at Derby College. I loved drawing as a child, so my dad suggested that I should look at architecture. It was the right decision – and taking an apprenticeship and going to college on day release was the better option for me. I’m not an academic person and I wouldn’t have enjoyed studying for years at university. I know the apprenticeship and college route wouldn’t suit everyone, but it was right for me.