This latest appointment builds on the Group’s newly-formed Responsible Business team and underlines its commitment to sustainably delivering infrastructure which is vital to the UK.

Baker, who has joined from contractor Careys where she was also sustainability lead, will be responsible for delivering Kier Construction’s targets.

These include achieving net zero carbon across business operations by 2039, eliminating avoidable waste by 2035, the delivery of 30p in every £ of impactful social value.

Before joining Careys two years ago, she worked at Sir Robert McAlpine for 12 years rising to the role of director for Safety, Sustainability, Health, Environment and Quality.

Louisa Finlay, managing director of Clients and Markets at Kier Construction, said: “Sustainably delivering infrastructure which is vital to the UK is at the heart of our purpose. We are committed to supporting the transformation of this industry, through net zero carbon solutions and leaving lasting legacies through our work.”

Kier’s focus on sustainability saw it recently deliver the UK’s first Passivhaus leisure centre, as well as introducing a number of carbon reduction measures, including a no idling policy across all of the group’s sites, offices and depots.