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Towards the end of last year, we set out to appoint our first Digital and Innovation Coordinator. A brand new role, designed to strengthen our digital capability, accelerate innovation and support delivery of our 2030 plan.
From the outset, we believed the right expertise already existed within Curtins. The response confirmed this and more. The calibre of applicants was exceptional, with colleagues from across the business stepping forward with energy, insight and ambition.
Following a rigorous interview process, we reached an exciting conclusion. We had not one, but two outstanding candidates with a technical delivery background, both demonstrating a clear vision for the future of Curtins and a strong alignment with our values of curiosity, integrity, impact and being human.
Rather than choose between them, we chose to do better.
Introducing Our New Digital Improvement and Innovation Roles
We are proud to announce the creation of two complementary roles that strengthen our commitment to digital transformation and continuous improvement.
Sophie Foulkes has been appointed as Digital Improvement Coordinator, focusing on accelerating digital transformation, aligning digital initiatives with business goals, and driving operational excellence across Curtins.
Marc Barlow has taken on the role of Innovation Coordinator, leading our innovation strategy by enhancing R&D activity to improve knowledge sharing, identifying grant funding opportunities to support commercial projects, building external partnerships, and strengthening Curtins’ position as a thought leader in the built environment.
Working closely together, Sophie and Marc balance exploration with delivery. Their combined focus ensures innovation is not only identified, but embedded in ways that support our people, our projects and our clients’ ambitions.
They are joined by software developer Nick Bennet, with Paul Menzies providing Board level oversight of the team, and regularly working with David Southwell (IT Engineer) along with other Senior Directors: David Price (IT), Phil Bruford (Finance), Andy Macfarlane (Technical Delivery) and Oliver Delucia-Crook (Business Development).
Research, Development and Innovation Partnerships
A key area of focus has been strengthening how we approach research and development. Through our partnership with Ayming, Curtins has embraced a proactive and structured approach to R&D, improving how we track projects and share learning across the business.
Our collaboration with Innovate UK is also opening new opportunities, including access to low carbon construction technologies, wider sustainable material networks, and connections with high value innovators ready to deploy solutions within live projects.
There’s a tendency to think innovation is always about building or designing something new. When in reality some of the most impactful examples of innovation come from how we navigate the unknowns of legacy buildings and design effective retrofit solutions, giving them a whole new lease of life.
Collaborating Across the Liverpool City Region
Innovation thrives through collaboration. Recently, Curtins hosted a Liverpool City Region Innovators Roundtable, bringing together enterprising local businesses, local authorities and universities.
Represented by Marc Barlow and Board Director Andy Macfarlane, discussions explored reuse and retrofit, carbon and whole life performance of existing buildings, material reuse, digital tools for existing assets, the impact of the Building Safety Act, and extending building lifespan. The session reinforced the importance of aligning retrofit activity with regional growth priorities and long term sustainability goals.
During the roundtable, Marc explained how innovation and retrofit feel like counter initiative, they are actually inherently linked.
Learning From Europe and Leading Internally
Sophie represented Curtins at the Symetri Europe BIM Summit in Sweden. The event provided insight into future developments in Autodesk and Naviate, emerging cyber law considerations for 2026, the opportunities and risks of AI, and data driven sustainability workflows.
Sophie says, “Attending the Symetri BIM Summit is part of our wider engagement with internal and external stakeholders, enabling us to develop a digital roadmap that reflects what matters most to our people, clients and partners. Focusing on digital transformation positions Curtins to respond to what’s needed now, while also being ready to implement emerging solutions from our partners as they become relevant to our work.”
Building on our strong relationship, Symetri is now sponsoring Curtins Leadership Lab, a new two-day internal programme designed to inspire and empower our managers and leaders. As part of this, Sophie and Marc will host a digital delivery session featuring a Dragons ' Den-style format, encouraging colleagues to pitch innovative ideas and shape the future of how we work.
Behind the Curtins Podcast
To share more about their journey, Marc and Sophie joined our Head of Culture and Engagement, Rhiannon Carss, on episode 2 of our podcast, Behind the Curtins. They discuss their new roles, what innovation means at Curtins, and how digital improvement supports our purpose of building a better future.
Listen on Spotify
