Leadership expert Freddie Guilmard of RTP speaks with Suzanne Moss, Business Manager at Ringway, on how purpose-driven leadership is helping embed culture and drive innovation across the highways sector.
When you talk to Suzanne Moss, her energy is instantly infectious. As Business Manager for Ringway in Milton Keynes—part of the wider Vinci UK Group—Suzanne plays a central role in keeping the city moving, quite literally. Since 2014, Ringway has been the Highways Service Provider for Milton Keynes City Council, and Suzanne’s leadership spans strategy, performance, innovation, communications, and stakeholder engagement.
But perhaps what stands out most is her passion for people and purpose. “I love the variety of my role,” she tells me, “but it’s the social value work that really fuels me.” She’s built strong community ties, including working with our team at The Red Thread Partnership through our Fellowship Programme. That desire to make a difference recently earned her the CITB Local Hero Award for the East of England (Top 100 Influencing Women in Contruction), and a finalist spot in the 2024 MK Women’s Leaders Awards.
Embedding Culture in a Changing Team
With the renewal of Ringway’s contract came the challenge of bringing in new talent—and with it, the challenge of embedding a well-established culture. “We’ve had a wave of new colleagues join us at all levels,” Suzanne explains. “We’ve always had strong values, but now it’s about making sure those values continue to live and breathe in a new context.”
From recruitment and onboarding to performance reviews later this year, Suzanne is working closely with line managers to ensure clarity of expectations and alignment with their Business Plan. “Setting clear objectives early on is key,” she says, “especially in a business that never stands still.”
Innovation Meets Social Value
One of the most exciting things Suzanne has spearheaded is Ringway’s Innovation Hub in Milton Keynes—a dedicated space where staff can step away from their day-to-day work and think differently. “It’s about giving people permission to be creative,” she says. “We’ve got a really enthusiastic Hub Manager who leads the charge on all things digital, and it’s great to see our people bringing forward ideas.”
Social value is just as central. Suzanne leads with a Social Value Calendar, making it easy for staff to get involved in career talks, volunteering, and even supporting ex-offenders into employment. “It’s not just a corporate initiative,” she says, “it’s something people are really proud to be part of.”
Unlearning and Adapting
Having recently helped mobilise a second-generation contract, Suzanne has had to let go of old ways of working. “What worked before doesn’t always work now,” she admits. “I’ve had to unlearn processes and rewire how we lead under a different governance model.”
Wellbeing in a High-Pressure Industry
In an industry still heavily male-dominated, Suzanne is conscious of the mental health risks. “We’ve made wellbeing part of our everyday culture,” she says. From Men’s Health Month events to casual quizzes and dress-down days, she knows that small gestures can spark big conversations. Her award-winning “Depot in Bloom” project—complete with a fruit and veg garden—helped staff take much-needed breaks outdoors. “We even won a Green World Award for it!” she says, still proudly surprised.
Looking Ahead
Two topics Suzanne didn’t expect to be talking about so often a year ago? Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR), and Carbon Literacy. She’s since trained as a FIR Ambassador and earned her Carbon Literacy certification. “These are no longer ‘nice-to-haves’—they’re business essentials,” she says.
As a mentor to graduates entering the industry, Suzanne is optimistic about the next generation. “The leaders of tomorrow need to be adaptable, tech-savvy, and brilliant communicators,” she reflects. “And they need to show how construction isn’t just about roads—it’s about making a real difference to people’s lives.”
Reflection or “Rapid Fire” with Suzanne Moss
A quote you keep coming back to
“Great leaders don’t tell you what to do… they show you how it’s done.”
A mistake that taught you something valuable
“Not doing a proper root cause analysis—and then making the same mistake again.”
One piece of advice for a new leader
“Build relationships with your team. And really listen to people.”
