Laura McGuigan is a Senior Business Development Manager at Kier Construction Scotland, bringing over a decade of industry experience to the built environment. Her path into construction was anything but conventional – beginning with a degree in International Fashion Branding and a stint as an Insurance Broker, before discovering her passion within a metal works company in the construction sector.
Laura joined Kier eight years ago as a Business Development Assistant and has since embraced a variety of roles, including bidding and frameworks. Today, she leads Kier Scotland’s business development and work-winning strategy, supporting a regional turnover of £150 million. Notably, she became the youngest member of Kier’s Senior Management Teams.
Laura is a special mentor to Circle Partnership, as she is our first Mentee turner Mentor. Laura partook in the programme back in 2022, where she learned invaluable skills which helped her climb the ranks and develop her confidence and skills both personally and professionally The experience helped her build confidence and accelerate her career, and she now is excited to give back by mentoring the next generation of female leaders in the industry. Through Circle, she’s formed lasting connections – including one with a friend now based in Dubai.
Outside of her role at Kier, Laura is Chair of Women in Property (WiP) Scotland, a not-for-profit organisation championing equity, diversity, and inclusion across the built environment. WiP supports professional development, mentoring, and schools outreach initiatives and so much more! Laura also played a key role in developing Kier Construction’s new EDI framework, Building Better Careers for All (BBCFA) – which aims to attract, develop and retain diverse talent, support working parents through family-first policies, and challenge outdated perceptions of the construction industry.
As a mental health advocate, Laura has contributed to a focus group with Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) and CITB, helping to develop a free, construction-specific Suicide Awareness Course for professionals across Scotland. Her goal is to break down stigma and offer meaningful support to those facing mental health challenges.
In her spare time, Laura loves to travel – her recent favourite destination was Thailand, where she explored Chiang Mai and spent time at an elephant sanctuary. She recently celebrated her wedding in sunny Cyprus and enjoys weekends with friends and family, browsing food markets and strolling with a skinny iced latte in hand.
