Meet the Team
Meet the people who bring Building It Better NI to life — from practical DIY and car maintenance training to the administration, digital systems and creative work happening behind the scenes.
Practical Skills Taught by Real People
Building It Better NI is built around a simple idea: practical skills should be accessible, supportive and enjoyable to learn.
Our team combines practical experience, teaching, creativity and behind-the-scenes support to provide welcoming, hands-on learning opportunities across Northern Ireland.
Sarah McKiernan
Sarah is the founder of Building It Better NI and the driving force behind its mission to make practical DIY and trade skills more accessible to women.
Through Building It Better NI, Sarah has created a supportive learning environment where women can gain hands-on experience, develop practical skills and build the confidence to tackle everyday jobs for themselves.
Her approach is centred on removing the intimidation that can sometimes surround tools and traditionally male-dominated practical skills. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, practise techniques and learn at a pace that works for them.
Sarah also works with community organisations, councils, schools and other groups to extend practical skills training beyond the public courses and into communities across Northern Ireland.
Building confidence is just as important as learning the practical skill itself.
Michelle
Michelle brings an approachable and practical teaching style to Building It Better NI’s hands-on DIY workshops.
Her own experience of developing practical DIY skills gives her an understanding of the confidence that comes from learning how to use tools correctly and discovering that many everyday jobs are achievable with the right knowledge and guidance.
During the workshops, Michelle helps participants become comfortable using tools, understand practical techniques and work through tasks step by step.
Her focus is on creating a relaxed environment where beginners can ask questions, make mistakes, practise and develop their skills without feeling under pressure.
Ellen Ritchie
Ellen brings professional mechanical knowledge and practical experience to Building It Better NI’s car maintenance training.
Her workshops help participants understand their vehicles, become more confident carrying out essential checks and develop a better understanding of basic car maintenance.
Ellen’s practical approach helps remove some of the uncertainty that can come with vehicle ownership. Participants can ask questions, see how components work and gain hands-on experience in a supportive setting.
The aim is not to turn participants into mechanics, but to give them the knowledge to better understand their vehicle, recognise potential problems and feel more confident when dealing with garages and routine maintenance.
Leah Stone
Leah helps shape how Building It Better NI communicates its work, courses and values to the wider community.
Working across branding, content and creative communication, Leah helps capture the personality of Building It Better NI and share the experiences of the people taking part in its workshops.
Her work supports the organisation’s online presence, helping potential participants understand what the courses involve and, importantly, that they are beginner-friendly, practical and welcoming.
Leah’s creative contribution helps ensure the Building It Better NI brand reflects the confidence, independence and sense of community at the heart of the organisation.
Roger Simms
Roger works behind the scenes supporting the administration, website and digital systems that help keep Building It Better NI running smoothly.
His role includes developing and maintaining the website, supporting the online course booking system, helping manage customer communications and working on the digital systems used to organise and promote the organisation’s training.
As Sarah’s father, Roger has been closely involved in supporting the development and growth of Building It Better NI. The family connection reflects the hands-on and personal approach that sits behind the organisation.
Although much of his work happens away from the workshops themselves, Roger helps make sure participants can find course information, book their place and receive the information they need before attending.
Different Roles. One Shared Purpose.
Everyone involved in Building It Better NI contributes to the same goal: making practical learning more accessible, supportive and confidence-building.
Practical
Learning by doing and developing skills that have genuine everyday value.
Supportive
Creating an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions and trying something new.
Empowering
Helping participants develop independence and greater confidence in their own abilities.
Approachable
Making DIY and practical skills understandable rather than intimidating.
Ready to Build Your Skills?
Explore upcoming DIY, plumbing, electrics, tiling and car maintenance courses across Northern Ireland.