(Pictured) Kayla McCandlish, Sustainability Intern on the Monklands Replacement Project team.

Hello! I am Kayla McCandlish and I am pleased to announce that I am the first Sustainability Intern to join the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) Team.

Sustainability has always been a keen interest of mine especially through completing my undergraduate degree where I graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) honours degree in Geography. I’ve learnt how important sustainability is for all fields, socially and economically, especially with net zero targets. With this, I am further expanding my knowledge within a slightly different field by undertaking a master’s degree (MSc) in Quantity Surveying. Combining my post-graduate degree with my internship at NHS Lanarkshire is allowing me to delve deep into the project and maximise my learning.

At NHS Lanarkshire, we are aiming to achieve net zero status by 2038. We are eager to meet these targets, especially within MRP. With this, we are proud to say that our build will not contribute any carbon emissions through all build and operational phases. I am extremely proud to be part of such a large scale, innovative and sustainable project.

At MRP, I have been appointed to work on Active Travel and Sustainable Transport. I will be involved in the process of creating the ‘Active Travel and Sustainable Transport Strategy’ for MRP. This strategy will describe the methods we are using to implement active and sustainable transport options for all staff, patients and visitors to the new University Hospital Monklands site. Methods of active travel can fit all purposes; transport, exercise and recreation. It’s important these methods are inclusive to all abilities and ages, of which these can be described as walking, wheeling or cycling. Providing patients, staff and visitors a safe and convenient way to travel sustainably will improve our efforts to becoming net zero by 2038.

I’m enjoying my time with the MRP team so far and I look forward to expanding my skills and knowledge through this project.