Discover how Marie is shaping our people, culture and future at Chartway.
Marie Knight joined Chartway Partnerships Group as Director of People in May 2026, taking responsibility for the Group’s people strategy across its businesses.
As a member of the Executive Committee, her remit includes employee relations, performance and development, leadership training and apprenticeships. She works with senior leaders and teams across the Group to support recruitment and retention, develop existing talent and ensure people have the opportunities and support they need to progress.
Marie joined Chartway with extensive experience in HR, learning and development and organisational growth. Before moving into housebuilding, she worked within the publishing sector, helping to grow an international business before its acquisition by Wiley and later leading a global training and communications function supporting around 800 people.
Her move to Chartway brought that experience into a new sector.
“I’ve genuinely enjoyed joining the housebuilding sector. What stands out is the tangible impact of the work. Every home we build represents a significant milestone for an individual or family, and it’s rewarding to be part of a business that makes such a meaningful difference to people’s lives.”
Since joining Chartway, Marie has focused on building relationships with colleagues and understanding the different roles and working environments within the Group.
This has included spending time with teams at OFP Timber Frame and introducing regular visits to Chartway’s construction sites. Marie and People Coordinator Kelly Auger visit a different development each month, meeting project managers, site managers and their teams.
The visits provide an informal opportunity for colleagues to share their experiences, ideas and feedback directly with the People team, while giving Marie valuable insight into the day-to-day realities of different roles and working environments across the Group.
“Spending time with colleagues across our sites and businesses is incredibly important to me. Those conversations provide valuable insight into the day-to-day realities of different roles and help ensure that our people strategy is grounded in what our teams genuinely need.”
Feedback from the visits helps inform the wider people strategy and identify practical ways to support teams.
Marie has also established Chartway Champions, a 13-strong group bringing together representatives from across the business.
Created following an employee survey, the group operates as an improvement taskforce, looking at practical ways to strengthen communication, collaboration and the employee experience at Chartway.
During its first 12 months, Chartway Champions will focus on a small number of priorities rather than attempting to tackle a long list of actions at once. For Marie, the important thing is making sure employee feedback leads to action.
“It’s important that we focus on making meaningful progress rather than creating long lists of actions. I’d rather deliver a small number of improvements well and demonstrate real change for our people than commit to too much and achieve too little.”
Learning and development forms a significant part of Marie’s role. She oversees performance and development across the Group and is leading a programme for Chartway’s Senior Leadership Team.
Her approach draws on previous experience of creating onboarding, coaching and learning programmes for an international workforce. Rather than viewing development solely in terms of formal training, Marie looks at the skills, experience and opportunities that will help individuals progress in their roles and careers.
At Chartway, this includes supporting managers and leaders, identifying training needs and helping to create a consistent approach across the Group.
Marie’s approach centres on building strong relationships, listening to colleagues and creating opportunities that enable people and the business to succeed together.
Marie’s remit also includes Chartway’s apprenticeship programme. Building Great Apprenticeships, created in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), supports new talent and provides opportunities for apprentices to build their skills and careers within housebuilding and construction.
The programme is helping Chartway invest in the skills the business and wider industry will need for the future.
She also places particular importance on supporting managers, recognising the influence they have on people’s day-to-day experience at work.
Since joining Chartway, Marie says she has been struck by the relationships between colleagues and the level of loyalty within the business.
“One of the things that has impressed me most since joining Chartway is the strength of the relationships across the business. There is a genuine sense of care, pride and connection between colleagues. As we continue to grow, retaining that culture and sense of community will remain incredibly important.”
For Marie, maintaining those qualities is important as the business continues to grow. Her aim is to build on the existing culture while strengthening leadership, creating opportunities for employees and ensuring the People team remains connected to colleagues throughout the Group.
Ultimately, it is the progress of individuals that Marie finds most rewarding.
“For me, the most rewarding aspect of any people role is seeing others succeed. Whether it’s someone developing new skills, progressing their career or achieving something they didn’t think was possible, supporting that journey is what makes the role so worthwhile.”
With Chartway Champions established, the site visits well under way and work continuing across leadership development, apprenticeships and the wider people strategy, Marie is helping to ensure Chartway remains a place where people can build their skills, progress their careers and contribute to the future success of the business.
