Iola Harding | Designer
Iola is a member of our prolific design team! She’s been a part of Headoffice3 since 2022, first as part of the commercial team before being trained in Revit and CAD in preparation for her move into Design.
“I’d just finished my A-Levels by the time I started at Headoffice3,” she says, “Art was one them. Funnily enough, It’d didn’t give me many points of reference for architectural design as most of my lesson time was spent making silly stop-motion animations with plasticine and bottle caps!
“I might have come in with zero experience, but growing up listening to Dad [Glen Harding, Director of Headoffice3] talk about his projects got me hooked early on.”
Iola’s first Headoffice3 project as a Designer was a house extension project in Liverpool.
“I did planning drawings and submitted my first planning application (which got approved with no conditions to discharge!),” she says, “I also went and worked on-site a couple of times which helped me get a better understanding of how these things work in real life and not just on paper.”
Despite only being a member of the Headoffice3’s Design Team for a short while, Iola’s excited whenever a complex project makes its way to her desk.
“I think I have to say that the currently ongoing Mapperley project has been my favourite one yet because of how big a learning experience it’s been for me,” she says, “I’ve gained so much knowledge on various details from the complex balustrade fixings to balcony designs, to fire compartmentation details and building regulations requirements.
“I am still learning something new the whole time, but this project has allowed me to gain more confidence in my ability to do this job.”
“Having worked mostly on new build projects prior to joining Headoffice3, I now find breathing new life into existing buildings very rewarding.”
Looking ahead, Iola is energised by the pace and variety of her work—qualities that keep her passion for design evolving every day.
“I love that every day is different and that I am constantly learning new things about the construction industry, new legislation and building regulations changes, and how things are done on site.”
It’s this curiosity and drive to grow that make her such a valuable part of the Headoffice3 team.
