From overseeing building houses for tigers at a safari park to discussing electrical socket placements with the future Princess of Wales, Tracey Field’s experience in estates and facilities management has taken her on a most unusual career trajectory leading her to start her own business, Tracey Field Consulting Ltd, and writing the ultimate guidebook for leaders working in the sector.
Tracey, from Seaham, started her career in a call centre for a housing association, working part-time while studying (she has a degree in construction management from Reading University) and would use her afternoons off to shadow colleagues to learn more about the property and building industry.
Working, studying and bringing up four children was no easy task; however, she soon climbed the career ladder to a managerial position. She moved on to work for The Bedford Estates managing the property and maintenance at Woburn Abbey and Gardens and Woburn Safari Park after successfully passing an interview with the Duke of Bedford.
“One of my biggest projects was working on the tiger house and the bear house,” explains Tracey, who has 25 years’ experience in the built environment and facilities management.
“From there I moved on to a role with the Royal household managing projects at all the London palaces. It is funny to think I was at Kensington Palace talking to the future Princess of Wales, Kate, when she had just married Prince William, about where she would like electrical sockets!”
She also worked in the Falklands for three years as a project manager and in a business improvement role, which saw her travel all over the world, including an expedition to Antarctica to learn more about sustainability. She then took on a role in Lagos in Nigeria for three years, working away six months at a time.
However, while she was home for Christmas 2019 with her family, she suffered a bombshell breakup. So, Tracey, originally from Essex, moved to the North-east in February 2020. Newly divorced, she bought a house and renovated it herself, including installing a new kitchen.
“I love it up here,” she says. “As soon as I moved here, I felt at home. Having worked in London for years, I love going out for a walk and talking to everybody and my children and five grandchildren have joined me up here.”
She took on a job as estates manager at a multi-academy trust, which she loved, but was struck by the thought: ‘If only there was a guidebook for estates’ which led her to her next venture.
Four years later, Tracey decided to take the leap into self-employment and launched her own company, Tracey Field Consulting Ltd, while writing her first book.
“Life is too short,” says Tracey, who is also a trustee at Ascent Academies Trust.
“I’ve been through many challenges including an unexpected back surgery nearly two years ago – all made me think differently.”
Tracey not only launched her own business in May, but she also knuckled down to write her go-to guide for people working in education estates.
Leading & Managing an Education Estate: A Practical Guide is a professional, practical guide for schools, trusts and organisations managing an education estate. It is out now and available at: https://traceyfieldconsulting.com/ols/categories/leading–managing-an-education-estate