Maisie joined B&P nearly six months ago and works as an Assistant Land Manager and Agricultural Liaison Officer (ALO) in our Onshore and Networks team. She grew up around beef cattle, dairy farming, sheep and arable operations, and now spends her days on renewable energy infrastructure projects, working with the landowners and farmers whose ground those projects run through. We asked her what it’s like to work across both worlds.
Looking at the photo below, I see more than a combine harvester in a field and a hard hat on a dashboard. In the foreground is construction: the high-vis and hard hat that have become part of my daily uniform. Beyond the fence is agriculture, the industry I’ve been connected to for as long as I can remember. As an Assistant Land Manager and Agricultural Liaison Officer (ALO), my role sits somewhere between the two.
At 24, with nearly three years in the industry, I’ve worked on projects contributing to the UK’s renewable energy future. Before this role, I worked onshore, supporting an offshore wind farm operation and assisting with overhead cable works and water pipelines. Now I’m helping deliver another infrastructure project that will power homes and communities for years to come.
Growing up on the land gave me an appreciation for the people who work it and the challenges they face. Like a lot of countryside families, I also had a hobby of horses. There was a time I’d more commonly be seen in a riding hat than a hard hat.
That background shapes how I do the job now. One day I might be discussing access requirements with landowners or supporting the Land Management team with stakeholder engagement. The next, I’m alongside construction teams working out how to keep to the programme without breaking a commitment we’ve made to someone whose land we’re on. A field isn’t just a field. It’s somebody’s crop, their livestock grazing, their income, often a family legacy going back generations.
There’s often a moment of tension when I first arrive to meet a landowner. More often than not, the project I’m working on isn’t exactly at the top of their list of favourite things, and they’re expecting a battle before I’ve even stepped out of the truck.
My biggest USP is that, despite looking like a 12-year-old boy most of the time, I can more than hold my own. The mood usually shifts once they realise that I’m a farmer too. I understand the realities of rural life, the frustrations, the long days, and just how much the land means to the people who work it. Whether we’re talking livestock, stubborn sheep, or the biggest tractor in the shed, there’s a common ground that helps break down barriers. Before long, the confrontation they were expecting turns into a conversation.
I’m approachable and genuine, but I also know when to stand my ground. There’s a reason I earned the nickname “The Terrier” in a previous role: cute and friendly enough on the surface, but not afraid to show my teeth when the situation calls for it.
A good example of the value of face-to-face conversations came when a landowner contacted me with concerns that the project was about to fence off a section of his field, effectively cutting his cattle off from almost a third of their grazing land. Rather than getting tied up in a lengthy email chain, I arranged a quick meeting with the site team to walk through the issue on the ground. It soon became clear that there was no real need to install stock-proof crossing points. After all, the last thing anyone needs is a herd of Highland cattle taking an interest in excavation works! By simply stepping the fence line back by 10 metres, we were able to maintain safe separation from the works while allowing the cattle to move freely around the field. A five-minute conversation not only prevented a frustrated landowner but also saved the project both time and money. It’s a perfect example of how understanding the realities of farming and taking the time to listen can lead to practical solutions that work for everyone.
The fence in the photo physically separates the site from the field. Most of my job is making sure there isn’t a divide between the people on either side of it. Communication is the most useful tool I have, whether that’s supporting a farmer during a period of construction activity, helping contractors understand landowner requirements, or working with colleagues across the Land team. Get that right, and disruption is minimised, work keeps moving, and everyone involved comes out of it in a better position than they’d have expected.
That’s the part I’m proud of. These projects represent real investment in the future, and being able to do that work with the agricultural knowledge and values I grew up with is the bit that makes it fit. Horses will always be part of my life, but these days you’re a lot more likely to find me in a hard hat than a riding hat.