How better to tell someone about another person or another entity than to zoom right in and share their space?
A few of my favourite written pieces appear below.
A few of my favourite written pieces appear below.
Private but Not For Profit – profile of Welsh Water (2015)
DWR CYMRU
Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water is a unique provider in England and Wales – the only private utilities company to deliver public services as a not-for-profit organisation.
This revenue model teamed with competitive outsourcing allows the company a reduced cost of capital and enables profits to be reinvested in effective and sustainable service delivery including the commissioning of new AD plants at its Cardiff and Afan wastewater facilities helping realise its target of 25% carbon footprint reduction by 2015. The business is owned by Glas Cymru –a company limited by guarantee.
The company serves over three million customers across Wales and across part of north-west England, supplying around 838 million litres of water per day. It is the fourth largest company in Wales and ranked joint second in Ofwat’s industry league tables for customer satisfaction.
As the occurrence of water stress events has increased in recent years, the importance of long-term sustainability to ensure supply conservation has placed significant pressure on utilities companies to address and optimise their existing infrastructure especially in consideration of leakage reduction.
RPS was solely awarded Dŵr Cymru’s Strategic Leakage Partnership framework contract at an annual value of £4m in 2005, and the five year agreement has since been further extended. RPS is appointed to provide multidisciplinary water consultancy services under this agreement, and there is a particular emphasis on leakage detection. We have also used Accuflow™ – the unique portable flow metering technology developed by RPS and Technolog – in delivering these services.
Over 120 RPS staff and 400 Dŵr Cymru staff are working closely to achieve the best results in leakage identification and reduction with around £250m invested each year in improving and upgrading water and wastewater assets of over 800 wastewater and sewerage treatment plants, more than 600 reservoirs and over 60,000km of water mains and sewers. In 2012/13 the total leakage reduction was reduced to 184ml/d from 226ml/d in 2004.
DWR CYMRU
Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water is a unique provider in England and Wales – the only private utilities company to deliver public services as a not-for-profit organisation.
This revenue model teamed with competitive outsourcing allows the company a reduced cost of capital and enables profits to be reinvested in effective and sustainable service delivery including the commissioning of new AD plants at its Cardiff and Afan wastewater facilities helping realise its target of 25% carbon footprint reduction by 2015. The business is owned by Glas Cymru –a company limited by guarantee.
The company serves over three million customers across Wales and across part of north-west England, supplying around 838 million litres of water per day. It is the fourth largest company in Wales and ranked joint second in Ofwat’s industry league tables for customer satisfaction.
As the occurrence of water stress events has increased in recent years, the importance of long-term sustainability to ensure supply conservation has placed significant pressure on utilities companies to address and optimise their existing infrastructure especially in consideration of leakage reduction.
RPS was solely awarded Dŵr Cymru’s Strategic Leakage Partnership framework contract at an annual value of £4m in 2005, and the five year agreement has since been further extended. RPS is appointed to provide multidisciplinary water consultancy services under this agreement, and there is a particular emphasis on leakage detection. We have also used Accuflow™ – the unique portable flow metering technology developed by RPS and Technolog – in delivering these services.
Over 120 RPS staff and 400 Dŵr Cymru staff are working closely to achieve the best results in leakage identification and reduction with around £250m invested each year in improving and upgrading water and wastewater assets of over 800 wastewater and sewerage treatment plants, more than 600 reservoirs and over 60,000km of water mains and sewers. In 2012/13 the total leakage reduction was reduced to 184ml/d from 226ml/d in 2004.
Discussion point: Skills shortages in the construction industry (2018)
KULI BAJWA
RPS Senior Project Manager Kuli Bajwa has been named the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year in Property and Construction: the prestigious awards recognising the city’s top career talent in under 35s.
Kuli sits on the committee for Birmingham Young Construction Professionals engaging and networking with industry new-joiners. She is keen to share her vision of a solid platform to promote and create opportunities for personal and professional growth working across communities and building strong networks fostering an environment of continuous improvement and achievement with well mentored support and positive drive for innovation.
KULI BAJWA
RPS Senior Project Manager Kuli Bajwa has been named the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year in Property and Construction: the prestigious awards recognising the city’s top career talent in under 35s.
Kuli sits on the committee for Birmingham Young Construction Professionals engaging and networking with industry new-joiners. She is keen to share her vision of a solid platform to promote and create opportunities for personal and professional growth working across communities and building strong networks fostering an environment of continuous improvement and achievement with well mentored support and positive drive for innovation.
She recently participated in an industry Round Table discussion to consider the challenges posed by skilled staff shortages in the construction industry (see Construction Industry Skills Shortage Impacts Go Beyond Recruitment). The insightful comments made in the event transcript reveal a valuable behind-the-scenes view into how the industry is experiencing and addressing skill shortages. We asked Kuli to chat a bit more with us about her experiences of skill shortages in the industry.
A lack of appropriately skilled staff coming into the industry has been noted as a key concern for several years, with particular gaps in the market being identified in the number of new graduates and trainees joining the industry, and in the number of women entering the industry.
Kuli joined RPS in 2015 from a background as a Chartered Building Surveyor with Bond Bryan and then with Rider Levett Bucknall having initially achieved a First in Building Surveying from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2012. Her placement year was spent with Transport for Greater Manchester.
Why did you choose building surveying initially? Did anything in particular inspire you?
I have always been interested in architecture and intrigued in how buildings are constructed however I had no idea that I would end up studying Building Surveying at University – it happened as if by chance! During sixth form [UK Further Education for 16-18 year-olds] I helped to raise money for charity towards building a school in Africa for children from a community which faced inequality and poverty, the school helped to transform a whole community. This really inspired me and allowed me to appreciate how the construction industry can help transform communities and create opportunities for all. I began to carry out my own research into the various construction career paths and decided to take up building surveying because of the wide range of skills it offered and the professional MRICS status that I could one day achieve once I graduated and gained experience.
What experience did you gain during your placement year and how did it help you in your degree course? Also what key skills did you gain from it that you can now apply effectively to your career?
My placement provided an insight into the real world of management and the construction industry. It provided me with a chance to put my skills into action, which allowed me to develop as a young professional. I believe that I achieved a better final degree because of the knowledge I gained during my year out, which contributed towards my dissertation. I also improved my time management skills which helped me prioritise and manage workloads at university whilst working a part time job.
Amongst the essential skills that I have gained and that I still apply today is being able to demonstrate my interpersonal skills. During my placement I was able to communicate effectively and participate in team projects and at times took the lead. I was able to advance my self-reliance skills, demonstrating that I could work independently and became self-aware of knowing what my strengths and weaknesses were which allowed me to organise myself and prioritise commitments. I also learned how to schedule – and protect – my time and have the confidence to ask for support and help when needed.
The issue of few women entering careers in the construction industry has been focused on in popular media. Did you find there was a fairly even gender balance on your degree course, and what do you think may influence the numbers of women taking up degree courses in surveying?
No, there wasn’t an even gender balance on my degree course – to put this into perspective, there were four females out of a group of thirty!
Times are changing and the rate at which women are embarking on careers in construction is improving but the uptake is still fairly slow compared to other industries such as law and finance. There is a longstanding perception that the construction industry is male-dominated. By acknowledging women’s achievements we can inspire other women to join our industry and help transform public perception making it more accessible for women.
Do you think that the avenues into careers in the construction consultancy are promoted adequately and are approachable enough to attract new people?
As an industry I do believe we offer great career packages for the young generation which offer job training and career development opportunities through apprenticeships, placements, graduate schemes and mentoring. In order to engage adequately we should strengthen our links with schools and colleges and promote technology when pitching construction and emphasise the many opportunities within our industry ranging from architecture to contractor.
In order to engage with a wider audience we should focus on understanding the drivers that motivate people to want to join the construction industry, reach out to those groups that might not normally be attracted to a career in construction and create multiple entry points with fast track opportunities. Not only do we need to redefine the image of construction but also create and explore attractive and innovative work environments, which actively promote work-life balance, flexibility and provide purposefulness.
During the Round Table discussion you mention in-house training as a way of retaining staff. If improved, this could go a long way to solving retention issues for many companies but what are your thoughts on filling the overall skills gap? Do we need to put more time and thought into building relationships with schools and colleges – how far should this go?
Evidence shows that businesses that invest in their staff are far more likely to survive an economic downturn than those that don’t. To help fill this gap companies need to invest in training and education engagement. Businesses should focus on up-skilling their existing employees, create new opportunities for the younger generation through apprenticeships and encourage employees to understand and appreciate how their wider business operates to allow them to fully integrate themselves into the business.
When it comes to education engagement I think we should reach out as far as we possibly can to build strong relationships with schools and colleges. I am not just proposing visiting a school or college to talk through a presentation, what I am proposing is to physically show schools and colleges what our industry is all about by arranging more site visits, architecture studio tours, exhibit BIM modelling and allowing them to interact with new innovative technologies. Our industry is exciting and we need to be able to express this in a way which is appealing to the younger generation in order to capture their interest.
How can we promote more women in construction?
Promote our female role models! I do believe that times are changing and more women are emerging into the construction industry but we can do more to promote this. As a young woman myself I look up to the women role models in the construction industry such as Louise Brooke-Smith and Amanda Clack both of whom have been elected as Global Presidents of the RICS and I feel inspired by the women that I work with. By acknowledging women’s achievements we can inspire other women to follow and help transform and adapt to public perception.
In the Round Table discussion you mentioned the issue of ‘poaching’ in the industry, where firms try to attract senior staff from other businesses rather than commit expenditure to recruiting newer faces and providing suitable training. What especial pitfalls and benefits do these two choices offer?
The advantages of recruiting young people and providing suitable training is that employees become more competent at their jobs and this increases productivity and can encourage motivation. They feel a sense of commitment from their employer and they can grow organically with the firm’s culture. The pitfall to this, possibly the biggest is that once fully trained, employees may leave for better paid jobs and the financial cost of training may be expensive.
The advantages of ‘poaching’ is that the senior member of staff will already have knowledge of the industry, the business, and can bring valuable new knowledge and even clients to a firm. The drawback to this is unrealistic salary expectations, although the experienced may not always have the type of experience required for the particular role; and your competitors may do the same and poach your employees!
The crux of it is that you need to treat your employees well, regardless of how they have been recruited, so you don’t give them a reason to leave!
How is your team working to address skills shortage in recruitment?
We are tackling the skills shortage in recruitment by promoting our industry through career fairs, creating strong links with schools and colleges and offering a wide variety of entry points into the firm. We are also providing regular job training and career development opportunities for new and existing employees. Our team avoid micromanaging and encourage employees in the decision making process to create a positive work environment.
Do you have any career highlights thus far?
Project managing Birmingham’s tallest PRS scheme, gaining my MRICS and winning the RPS Birmingham sports day!
Kuli has achieved great things and is a real inspiration. When she was nominated for Birmingham Young Professional of the Year it was important to share this, but also to connect it to STEM whilst sharing Kuli's own voice. Tone needs to be relatable to engage the reader and contexts and background need to be visible between the lines to round the experience of meeting this person, if only through 300 words on a monitor screen.
Turning up the heat on STEM with CIA Young Ambassador finalists (2018)
JAMES DALEY AND ANDREW GARRISON
JAMES DALEY AND ANDREW GARRISON
This year RPS has been pleased to announce two Health, Safety and Risk staff shortlisted for the title of Young Ambassador* at the Chemical Industry Awards (CIA). James Daley and Andrew Garrison work in RPS’ Warrington office, having joined RPS within months of one another and both are key frontline staff in its STEM engagement program. Both specialise in working closely with clients to protect their employees from Fire and Explosion.
Andrew joined the team in 2014 having graduated from the University of Leeds with an honours degree in Physics. He specialises in protecting workers from the risk of Explosion (Covered by the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) in the UK): mostly for the civil and nuclear industries with clients including Unilever, Springfield Fuels Ltd and UPM. Last year Andrew co-prepared the Energy Institute’s research report on Aviation Fuelling Hazardous Area Classification and undertook its literature review. Andrew has also developed a Fire Loading tool helping fire engineers to compile energy in a room and calculate fire severity and time equivalence of a room; and has assisted in its implementation in fire assessments for AWE and Sellafield.
James joined RPS in 2013 with an honours degree in Fire Safety and Risk Management, and is currently working towards Chartered Engineering status with the Institute of Fire Engineers. James’ experience so far in safety engineering has typically been task-based, within the UK Process, Nuclear and Defence industries. He continues to put theory into practice and develop his technical ability to develop his safety case understanding, including fire engineering, nuclear fire engineering, conventional safety assessments and other associated areas. He has authored technical articles on on Safety System Fire Analysis and Fire Prevention Plans which he has presented at the IChemE international Hazards 27 & 28 conference and at hazardEx 2017 & 2018. He has delivered staff Nuclear Fire Safety Training within RPS and has conducted fire-loading and fire modelling reports for AWE and HAZOP studies for Unilever. James is also RPS’ Nuclear Institute Young Generation Network representative.
You are both very active in STEM engagement events, such as the annual Culcheth careers fair, Engineering Your Future and Institute of Physics events, how do you balance these with your fee-earning work?
James: We have regular contact with the organisers of such events, which allows us to readily balance our volunteering with fee-earning work. Our management team are very supportive of STEM activities, and we also have other colleagues who are keen to get involved!
Andrew joined the team in 2014 having graduated from the University of Leeds with an honours degree in Physics. He specialises in protecting workers from the risk of Explosion (Covered by the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) in the UK): mostly for the civil and nuclear industries with clients including Unilever, Springfield Fuels Ltd and UPM. Last year Andrew co-prepared the Energy Institute’s research report on Aviation Fuelling Hazardous Area Classification and undertook its literature review. Andrew has also developed a Fire Loading tool helping fire engineers to compile energy in a room and calculate fire severity and time equivalence of a room; and has assisted in its implementation in fire assessments for AWE and Sellafield.
James joined RPS in 2013 with an honours degree in Fire Safety and Risk Management, and is currently working towards Chartered Engineering status with the Institute of Fire Engineers. James’ experience so far in safety engineering has typically been task-based, within the UK Process, Nuclear and Defence industries. He continues to put theory into practice and develop his technical ability to develop his safety case understanding, including fire engineering, nuclear fire engineering, conventional safety assessments and other associated areas. He has authored technical articles on on Safety System Fire Analysis and Fire Prevention Plans which he has presented at the IChemE international Hazards 27 & 28 conference and at hazardEx 2017 & 2018. He has delivered staff Nuclear Fire Safety Training within RPS and has conducted fire-loading and fire modelling reports for AWE and HAZOP studies for Unilever. James is also RPS’ Nuclear Institute Young Generation Network representative.
You are both very active in STEM engagement events, such as the annual Culcheth careers fair, Engineering Your Future and Institute of Physics events, how do you balance these with your fee-earning work?
James: We have regular contact with the organisers of such events, which allows us to readily balance our volunteering with fee-earning work. Our management team are very supportive of STEM activities, and we also have other colleagues who are keen to get involved!
Do you have plans for more Engineering Your Future events this year?
James: The Engineering Your Future 2018 organising team have been in contact with us, and RPS is due to support the event later this year in Warrington.
James: The Engineering Your Future 2018 organising team have been in contact with us, and RPS is due to support the event later this year in Warrington.
How important do you feel it is that we present a tangible experience of careers in Health, Safety & Risk to students of all ages, and do you think the experience presented is more beneficial to specific education groups (eg. college (FE) students)?
Andrew: When engaging with younger students we keep our occupation as general as possible so as to promote a career in science and engineering. When we are speaking to students who are close to going to university our into a career we then focus more on the actual experiences of our specific industry of Health, Safety and Risk.
Andrew: When engaging with younger students we keep our occupation as general as possible so as to promote a career in science and engineering. When we are speaking to students who are close to going to university our into a career we then focus more on the actual experiences of our specific industry of Health, Safety and Risk.
James, you are currently RPS’ Nuclear Institute Young Generation Network (YGN) representative. What does that involve and how do you apply your professional skills to it?
It typically involves me liaising with the YGN Chair with regards to volunteering at local events, such as the Exhibition and Networking events at Birchwood Park. The majority of events involve networking with like-minded people, so having the confidence to talk to these people (who are sometimes professionally very senior to us) is a great skill to take in from our day to day work!
It typically involves me liaising with the YGN Chair with regards to volunteering at local events, such as the Exhibition and Networking events at Birchwood Park. The majority of events involve networking with like-minded people, so having the confidence to talk to these people (who are sometimes professionally very senior to us) is a great skill to take in from our day to day work!
As a representative what skills do you bring from that to your day-to-day work?
Having the confidence to talk to various people at events is a key skill (most of which are at different points in their careers). However, the willingness to go that extra mile is also a key attribute to being a representative!
Having the confidence to talk to various people at events is a key skill (most of which are at different points in their careers). However, the willingness to go that extra mile is also a key attribute to being a representative!
You’ve both proved yourselves very popular with the team’s stands at careers events such as Culcheth High School’s careers fair where you’ve now exhibited for the last four years. What inspires the activities you run on the stands and do you spend a long time planning them?
Andrew: We aim to bring some fun to the events and also increase engagement on our stand. Therefore we normally have a game of some sort on the stand which draws people in and allows us to have a conversation in a more relaxed environment.
Andrew: We aim to bring some fun to the events and also increase engagement on our stand. Therefore we normally have a game of some sort on the stand which draws people in and allows us to have a conversation in a more relaxed environment.
You have both represented careers in Risk Management very successfully. Are you starting to see a tangible relationship between the careers events you have exhibited at and students applying for work placements or careers?
Andrew: We have been engaged in these activities for just over four years now and we like to think we have done our bit to increase the uptake in STEM related degrees and careers. Unfortunately it will be another couple of years until many of the pupils we engaged with will be graduating from further education.
This year you seem to have enjoyed a broader audience of engagement at careers events – with a greater number of older job seekers visiting the stand as well as young adult students. How are you tailoring the stand’s appeal and benefits to best suit a wider range of careers stages represented by its visitors?
James: Yes, this was the first time parents were invited to attend the fair at the end of the school day which presented the consultants who attended with a different range of questions! We aim to have a variety of information and activities on the stand to attract all ages; an example of this would be the very popular shuffle board game!
Andrew: We have been engaged in these activities for just over four years now and we like to think we have done our bit to increase the uptake in STEM related degrees and careers. Unfortunately it will be another couple of years until many of the pupils we engaged with will be graduating from further education.
This year you seem to have enjoyed a broader audience of engagement at careers events – with a greater number of older job seekers visiting the stand as well as young adult students. How are you tailoring the stand’s appeal and benefits to best suit a wider range of careers stages represented by its visitors?
James: Yes, this was the first time parents were invited to attend the fair at the end of the school day which presented the consultants who attended with a different range of questions! We aim to have a variety of information and activities on the stand to attract all ages; an example of this would be the very popular shuffle board game!
Andy, your career path from Physics degree to Explosion Risks isn’t necessarily an obvious choice. At what point did you realise this was your career path and what inspired you?
I was drawn to studying physics at university rather than a straight maths degree as I found physics more challenging at school. At RPS I started off in the radiological assessment team but was given the opportunity to work with the Fire and Process team and their work peaked my interest and I joined their team full time. So I had no concrete career path instead I took the opportunities which challenged and interested me and I have ended up here.
I was drawn to studying physics at university rather than a straight maths degree as I found physics more challenging at school. At RPS I started off in the radiological assessment team but was given the opportunity to work with the Fire and Process team and their work peaked my interest and I joined their team full time. So I had no concrete career path instead I took the opportunities which challenged and interested me and I have ended up here.
Did you feel that you were both well mentored in your applications for Young Ambassador and are there any areas that you would improve on in your application processes?
Mark Austin was a great aid in our application process, apart from being involved in more industry leading projects and being enthusiastic ambassadors for our industry and RPS there is not much more that we could do to improve our applications.
*Jennifer Peake won the final title for 2018.
Mark Austin was a great aid in our application process, apart from being involved in more industry leading projects and being enthusiastic ambassadors for our industry and RPS there is not much more that we could do to improve our applications.
*Jennifer Peake won the final title for 2018.
These guys are an amazing pair, positively bursting with new ideas and approaches, and open-armed in taking people on board with their insights and innovations. Also, what could be more exciting as a work field than the explosive dynamics of hazard safety?
Important discussion points (2017)
It is clear that a transparent and informed approach that openly discusses and examines issues from all angles is essential to best practice in the consultancy sector.
Best practice knowledge sharing within leading large multinational consultancy RPS Group Plc is enhanced by the various sector groups to ensure integration and sharing between countries, teams and offices. To encourage the best possible integration internally and when working with clients, RPS reviews and adapts its service structure from time to time to work most efficiently with changing markets and demands. Service sectors are divisioned by geographic location as RPS Australia and Asia Pacific, RPS Europe, and RPS North America.
Central to achieving such aims outwardly is maintaining a clear visibility across all areas of service activity and a willing and responsible engagement with public media. For contracted work, it is key that this is managed in coordination with the client, and an external consultancy brings an objective and professional evaluation, widening the viewpoint and helping to ensure that trust works both ways.
“Knowledge sharing of project information among stakeholders is essential on infrastructure projects” says RPS Director of Marketing & Gas PJ Rudden “Especially for projects which may impact on local environments to be realised successfully, early stakeholder engagement is essential. RPS made a point of implementing transparent local community involvement on sensitive projects many years before it became a legal requirement to address this successfully. To ensure robust risk management leading to greater certainty of cost and effective delivery of projects, we consult early, openly and honestly from the very start. This is also when local people will have the greatest opportunity to influence how projects in their areas are delivered successfully.”
“Our clients often tell us that, in addition to being highly informed about an issue, the fact that we are external brings immense benefits when developing their project communications and crisis management strategies” says Neasa Kane-Fine, RPS Director of Project Communications, Ireland “We have the ability to stand back, examine an issue from every angle and then interrogate all possible solutions and how they might play out. But being a highly trusted advisor is vital because we need our clients to be open and totally honest with us so that we can develop informed and robust approaches to managing their own reputation and their projects’ credibility.”
David Cowan is the RPS Managing Director of Planning & Environment for RPS Europe and agrees “In Planning and Environment the vast majority of the work we do is ultimately communicating information about our client’s projects, the benefits that they bring and how their environmental impacts are mitigated. Whether it is in project meetings, in technical reports, in public meetings or at Public Inquiries, informed and transparent communication is vital. It can save time and cost by getting the point across quickly and makes what we say more compelling. It’s the best way to communicate at all levels whether it’s sharing best practice or communicating project details.”
"Put simply," says RPS Europe CEO Trevor Hoyle “we must have relevant information in order to develop the knowledge that we need to consistently provide wise advice and deliver effective solutions. Our culture of open engagement with both staff and clients enables us to achieve this successfully."
Best practice knowledge sharing within leading large multinational consultancy RPS Group Plc is enhanced by the various sector groups to ensure integration and sharing between countries, teams and offices. To encourage the best possible integration internally and when working with clients, RPS reviews and adapts its service structure from time to time to work most efficiently with changing markets and demands. Service sectors are divisioned by geographic location as RPS Australia and Asia Pacific, RPS Europe, and RPS North America.
Central to achieving such aims outwardly is maintaining a clear visibility across all areas of service activity and a willing and responsible engagement with public media. For contracted work, it is key that this is managed in coordination with the client, and an external consultancy brings an objective and professional evaluation, widening the viewpoint and helping to ensure that trust works both ways.
“Knowledge sharing of project information among stakeholders is essential on infrastructure projects” says RPS Director of Marketing & Gas PJ Rudden “Especially for projects which may impact on local environments to be realised successfully, early stakeholder engagement is essential. RPS made a point of implementing transparent local community involvement on sensitive projects many years before it became a legal requirement to address this successfully. To ensure robust risk management leading to greater certainty of cost and effective delivery of projects, we consult early, openly and honestly from the very start. This is also when local people will have the greatest opportunity to influence how projects in their areas are delivered successfully.”
“Our clients often tell us that, in addition to being highly informed about an issue, the fact that we are external brings immense benefits when developing their project communications and crisis management strategies” says Neasa Kane-Fine, RPS Director of Project Communications, Ireland “We have the ability to stand back, examine an issue from every angle and then interrogate all possible solutions and how they might play out. But being a highly trusted advisor is vital because we need our clients to be open and totally honest with us so that we can develop informed and robust approaches to managing their own reputation and their projects’ credibility.”
David Cowan is the RPS Managing Director of Planning & Environment for RPS Europe and agrees “In Planning and Environment the vast majority of the work we do is ultimately communicating information about our client’s projects, the benefits that they bring and how their environmental impacts are mitigated. Whether it is in project meetings, in technical reports, in public meetings or at Public Inquiries, informed and transparent communication is vital. It can save time and cost by getting the point across quickly and makes what we say more compelling. It’s the best way to communicate at all levels whether it’s sharing best practice or communicating project details.”
"Put simply," says RPS Europe CEO Trevor Hoyle “we must have relevant information in order to develop the knowledge that we need to consistently provide wise advice and deliver effective solutions. Our culture of open engagement with both staff and clients enables us to achieve this successfully."
RPS Occupational Hygienist awarded leading industry prize (2017)
ERIK VAN DEURSSEN
RPS Occupational Hygienist Erik van Deurssen has received the Thomas Bedford Memorial Prize[i] in recognition of the outstanding quality of his PhD research paper examining paths for the reduction of exposure to quartz dust in construction works: ‘Effectiveness of a multidimensional randomized control intervention to reduce quartz exposure among construction workers’.
Erik, from RPS’ Breda Laboratory, accepted the prize on behalf of himself and his co-authors from Karen Bufton, President of the British Occupational Hygiene Society, a sister association of the Dutch Association for Labour Hygiene (NVvA), at a ceremony on 26th April in Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Quartz, or silica, is a naturally occurring common mineral often found in soil, sand and rock, and ergo in construction materials such as concrete and masonry. Cutting the materials releases minute particles of quartz dust, significant exposure to which can lead to respiratory damage and lung disease. Despite more raised awareness, levels of working exposure often still exceed current limit values. Worker exposure on construction sites must be kept at or below an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL)[ii], in accordance with national regulation.
Erik proposed a multidisciplinary intervention model developed from extensive consultation with construction workers and employers, and with industry associations and umbrella organisations including the Dutch labour inspectorate to test the feasibility of the intervention. He carried out site visits between 2010 and 2015 examining Health & Safety policies and risk procedures and conducting over 300 personal exposure measurements from construction staff. Participants also completed a strategically designed questionnaire to give insight into awareness of quartz dust and its associated exposure risks, and perceptions and attitudes towards the risks before attending plenary information sessions where they were shown a documentary produced in coordination with an expert lung physician to highlight risk perception of exposure.
The multi-faceted approach notably raised the profile of the risk and the participating companies fed back that they were giving more priority to minimising exposure to quartz dust as a result of the intervention.
“The reduction of exposure is largely due to more frequent and effective use of available management measures. At the end of the intervention, it became clear that the participating companies would give more priority to employees’ health and safety when working with quartz dust exposure, says Erik “From evaluation of participating construction workers and managers of companies, it appears that the content of the intervention is well connected to practice, and that successful translation of theory into practice was an important goal of the research. It has resulted very positively in intentions to focus more on reducing exposure and improving management safety measures and shown that employees are more aware of the health risks and safer working measures that they can take themselves.”
Although many recipients of the prize work in the academic world, Erik consciously sought a private sector career to have a more hands-on relationship with his field of study. “For the future I want to continue to acquire and apply my knowledge and experience to improving the workplace, and to advise and encourage clients to create a safe and healthy work environment. Gaining the interest and response from busy staff is a major task, but crucial to forming positive change and has given me valuable insights to benefit my professional role."
"He has shown in an excellent way what preconditions are necessary for the successful implementation of intervention studies in the field of occupational hygiene to reduce exposure to hazardous substances," said Karen Bufton at the ceremony. "This is a beautiful confirmation that my research is also being internationally appreciated" Erik acknowledged.
Notes:
[i] The Thomas Hobbs Memorial Prize is named in honour of the British Occupational Hygiene Society’s first president. The Society’s Council awards the prize to the author(s) of the most outstanding paper published in The Annals of Occupational Hygiene over a two year period, as recommended by the Editor in Chief.
[ii] The figure is calculated as an average over an eight-hour working day. Many countries have moved to reduce workplace exposure limit to 0.05 mg/m3 maximum. In the US and Canada it varies by state, British Columbia and some other states in Canada – 0.025 mg/m3; - in Ireland, Italy, Finland and Portugal – 0.05 mg/m3; - in the Netherlands – 0.075 mg/m3; - in Britain – 0.1 mg/m3; - in Poland – 0.3 mg/m3.Figures from Institute of Safety and Health, UK.
ERIK VAN DEURSSEN
RPS Occupational Hygienist Erik van Deurssen has received the Thomas Bedford Memorial Prize[i] in recognition of the outstanding quality of his PhD research paper examining paths for the reduction of exposure to quartz dust in construction works: ‘Effectiveness of a multidimensional randomized control intervention to reduce quartz exposure among construction workers’.
Erik, from RPS’ Breda Laboratory, accepted the prize on behalf of himself and his co-authors from Karen Bufton, President of the British Occupational Hygiene Society, a sister association of the Dutch Association for Labour Hygiene (NVvA), at a ceremony on 26th April in Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Quartz, or silica, is a naturally occurring common mineral often found in soil, sand and rock, and ergo in construction materials such as concrete and masonry. Cutting the materials releases minute particles of quartz dust, significant exposure to which can lead to respiratory damage and lung disease. Despite more raised awareness, levels of working exposure often still exceed current limit values. Worker exposure on construction sites must be kept at or below an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL)[ii], in accordance with national regulation.
Erik proposed a multidisciplinary intervention model developed from extensive consultation with construction workers and employers, and with industry associations and umbrella organisations including the Dutch labour inspectorate to test the feasibility of the intervention. He carried out site visits between 2010 and 2015 examining Health & Safety policies and risk procedures and conducting over 300 personal exposure measurements from construction staff. Participants also completed a strategically designed questionnaire to give insight into awareness of quartz dust and its associated exposure risks, and perceptions and attitudes towards the risks before attending plenary information sessions where they were shown a documentary produced in coordination with an expert lung physician to highlight risk perception of exposure.
The multi-faceted approach notably raised the profile of the risk and the participating companies fed back that they were giving more priority to minimising exposure to quartz dust as a result of the intervention.
“The reduction of exposure is largely due to more frequent and effective use of available management measures. At the end of the intervention, it became clear that the participating companies would give more priority to employees’ health and safety when working with quartz dust exposure, says Erik “From evaluation of participating construction workers and managers of companies, it appears that the content of the intervention is well connected to practice, and that successful translation of theory into practice was an important goal of the research. It has resulted very positively in intentions to focus more on reducing exposure and improving management safety measures and shown that employees are more aware of the health risks and safer working measures that they can take themselves.”
Although many recipients of the prize work in the academic world, Erik consciously sought a private sector career to have a more hands-on relationship with his field of study. “For the future I want to continue to acquire and apply my knowledge and experience to improving the workplace, and to advise and encourage clients to create a safe and healthy work environment. Gaining the interest and response from busy staff is a major task, but crucial to forming positive change and has given me valuable insights to benefit my professional role."
"He has shown in an excellent way what preconditions are necessary for the successful implementation of intervention studies in the field of occupational hygiene to reduce exposure to hazardous substances," said Karen Bufton at the ceremony. "This is a beautiful confirmation that my research is also being internationally appreciated" Erik acknowledged.
Notes:
[i] The Thomas Hobbs Memorial Prize is named in honour of the British Occupational Hygiene Society’s first president. The Society’s Council awards the prize to the author(s) of the most outstanding paper published in The Annals of Occupational Hygiene over a two year period, as recommended by the Editor in Chief.
[ii] The figure is calculated as an average over an eight-hour working day. Many countries have moved to reduce workplace exposure limit to 0.05 mg/m3 maximum. In the US and Canada it varies by state, British Columbia and some other states in Canada – 0.025 mg/m3; - in Ireland, Italy, Finland and Portugal – 0.05 mg/m3; - in the Netherlands – 0.075 mg/m3; - in Britain – 0.1 mg/m3; - in Poland – 0.3 mg/m3.Figures from Institute of Safety and Health, UK.
Global foothold for wettest cycle run (2012)
HANNAH LINDE - World triathlon athlete
HANNAH LINDE - World triathlon athlete
Hannah Linde is always on the go – beside her full-time position as a Business Support Officer in a busy Ipswich (AU) office, she is studying for Bachelor of Sport, Health and Physical Education, and Bachelor of Business at university, and she coaches cross-country and athletics at her local girls’ grammar school. Oh, and she has just returned from the World Triathlon Championships 2012 in New Zealand...
Hannah competed in the world titles in Hawaii in 2005. She was selected to compete in the 25-29 year age group for the Australia team after she came second overall in the Queensland Gatorade Series seven events for her age group earlier this year. This outstanding performance has earned her a sponsorship from SCODY, and the title of SCODY Ambassador for 2012/13.
Auckland weather proved a little more difficult than her training grounds of Queensland, but she still achieved a good finish in 26th place of 60 competitors, and looks forward to more challenges and exciting experiences next year, as she explains: “My race went well, The conditions were tough…14 degrees in the water and very strong cold winds! I know I would have done a lot better if I was racing in my more favourable conditions of hot sunny Queensland…but that’s international racing. On another note, Auckland was a very nice place and the scenery throughout the course was great. I also got to watch the elites race which was amazing and then sat next to Erin Densham at the Australian Team Dinner.”
Hannah competed in the world titles in Hawaii in 2005. She was selected to compete in the 25-29 year age group for the Australia team after she came second overall in the Queensland Gatorade Series seven events for her age group earlier this year. This outstanding performance has earned her a sponsorship from SCODY, and the title of SCODY Ambassador for 2012/13.
Auckland weather proved a little more difficult than her training grounds of Queensland, but she still achieved a good finish in 26th place of 60 competitors, and looks forward to more challenges and exciting experiences next year, as she explains: “My race went well, The conditions were tough…14 degrees in the water and very strong cold winds! I know I would have done a lot better if I was racing in my more favourable conditions of hot sunny Queensland…but that’s international racing. On another note, Auckland was a very nice place and the scenery throughout the course was great. I also got to watch the elites race which was amazing and then sat next to Erin Densham at the Australian Team Dinner.”
The man on the mountain - conquering Everest (2010)
PATRICK HOLLINGWORTH
PATRICK HOLLINGWORTH
It was the family hiking trip that first inspired Pat Hollingworth's love of climbing, and then his subsequent goal to attain the summit of Everest. He and his brother followed the family trip by climbing in New Zealand, and then in the Canadian Rockies. Above all, this new addiction that was slowly seizing him gave him a great satisfaction as he scaled dizzying heights –conquering acrophobia.
Pat followed the Rockies with the French Alps, and then tackled the Gouter Route to the summit on Mont Blanc –the highest he had yet experienced at 4,810m.Then came the greatest challenge: Spantik (Karakorum Range) in Pakistan. The mountain dwarfed Mont Blanc at an incredible 7,000m height.
This could have been the turnaround for his mountaineering dreams. It was not a smooth ascent by any means, and the party finally had to turn back and descend at 5,550m as a vicious storm approached that made it severely dangerous to attempt to climb any higher, or even to remain and wait it out. From the moment that the party had been forced to turn around, however, an intrinsic need was realized in Pat –a compulsion to beat the elements…He set his target on the most famous mountain of all: Everest.
This was no mere daydream. From that point onwards, Managing Scientist Pat has trained hard, with his goal kept firmly in sight. Spantik was followed by Ama Dabla in Nepal where high-altitude pulmonary oedema forced him to turn around, then Denali in Alaska which he climbed after sustaining a knee injury. Last year, he climbed Baruntse (Nepal) and Cho Oyu (Tibet) – the 6th highest mountain in the world, at 8,201m (both in the Himalayas range). During these climbs he met experienced sherpas Lakpa Sherpa and Sumit Joshi –who are the Sirdar (Head Sherpa) and Base Camp Manager accompanying him on the Everest climb, along with Angkaji Sherpa and Jangbu Sherpa. Add to this some three-four hours of intensive training each day –in the gym, aerobics classes to optimise cardiovascular health (to better manage the reduced air pressure and lower oxygen levels at high altitudes) and strenuous walks with a heavy rucksack.
With his employer as primary sponsor, and co-sponsorship from Men’s Advisory Network –the male well-being charity, offering advice and support, and tackling depression in Western Australia (www.man.org.au/) that Pat is supporting in his climb - alongside several large Perth businesses, Pat began the ascent on 31 March –leaving from Ghat, Lukla, which is 2,800m above sea-level, and heading for the Base Camp.
The route he is taking is that led by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in May 1953. The successful climb –following the southern route is as dramatic in its risks as it is in its views. The Base Camp is located near the Khumbu Icefall –a dangerous river of ice at 5,486m- issuing from the Khumbu glacier whose fast-moving transitions can open new crevasses in the rock with no forewarning. The glacier can advance up to four feet each day in milder weather and the tumbling seracs (ice-blocks) it dispatches at random intervals range from car to hotel size lumps.
From Camp 2 onwards, much of the journey requires ropes and some serious climbing skills, and as the air steadily thins the climbers need to supplement their supply with bottled oxygen carried in their kit. After Camp 4 is the most daunting stage –the completely exposed knife-edge south-eastern ridge just before the 12m high almost-vertical rock-face of the Hillary Step at 8,790m –halfway between the South and actual Summits. From there to the ultimate peak it is loose, rocky ground, and climbers must adapt quickly from the rope climb to keeping a steady footing.
The climb was not without hair-raising moments, as Pat’s blog records:
“…masses of ice and snow came pouring down from above.. a really big wave –it was like we were in the channel as a 20ft clean-up set bore down…50m to the left was being decimated. The hissing of the ice afterwards…The sense of shock, and then relief was almost the same.
…there is a massive and constant roar coming from Everest –the jet-stream winds are in full flight! The winds were blowing snow UP the north face of Nuptse –like a reverse avalanche. Camp 3 is uninhabitable at the moment because of the winds, as is C4.”
The adverse weather delayed the party by a day, but the 8,850m summit was proudly reached on May 17th at 1300h Perth time (0500h GMT). Standing on the summit, an exhausted but euphoric Pat recorded his audio blog –the microphone on his PDA buffeted by the wind:
“It was quite a long climb [the final push to the summit] –took nearly an hour …it was slow-going, and a bit frustrating. It’s pretty cold up on the summit, there’s a bit of a wind blowing. The views are really spectacular.
Thanks to Sumit and Lakpa …Thanks for helping me get up here! I want to say thank you to the sponsors, to the guys at RPS…all these individuals who’ve supported me.”
Gruelling weather delayed the subsequent descent, but Pat finally reached base on 19th May, thankful to have arrived safely after the combination of sheer physical exhaustion and a potential 1000m drop as he descended the Lhotse Face. Weary but elated, he noted:
“…this exhaustion –the kind where after taking ten steps you have to sit down in the snow and search somewhere deep within to find the energy to repeat the process –But that doesn’t matter now; we are back safely.. if you want to love your fellow man, climb Mount Everest with him, and you’ll love him for the rest of your life!”
And as for what lofty target is in his sights for the next challenge – we will have to wait and see…
Pat followed the Rockies with the French Alps, and then tackled the Gouter Route to the summit on Mont Blanc –the highest he had yet experienced at 4,810m.Then came the greatest challenge: Spantik (Karakorum Range) in Pakistan. The mountain dwarfed Mont Blanc at an incredible 7,000m height.
This could have been the turnaround for his mountaineering dreams. It was not a smooth ascent by any means, and the party finally had to turn back and descend at 5,550m as a vicious storm approached that made it severely dangerous to attempt to climb any higher, or even to remain and wait it out. From the moment that the party had been forced to turn around, however, an intrinsic need was realized in Pat –a compulsion to beat the elements…He set his target on the most famous mountain of all: Everest.
This was no mere daydream. From that point onwards, Managing Scientist Pat has trained hard, with his goal kept firmly in sight. Spantik was followed by Ama Dabla in Nepal where high-altitude pulmonary oedema forced him to turn around, then Denali in Alaska which he climbed after sustaining a knee injury. Last year, he climbed Baruntse (Nepal) and Cho Oyu (Tibet) – the 6th highest mountain in the world, at 8,201m (both in the Himalayas range). During these climbs he met experienced sherpas Lakpa Sherpa and Sumit Joshi –who are the Sirdar (Head Sherpa) and Base Camp Manager accompanying him on the Everest climb, along with Angkaji Sherpa and Jangbu Sherpa. Add to this some three-four hours of intensive training each day –in the gym, aerobics classes to optimise cardiovascular health (to better manage the reduced air pressure and lower oxygen levels at high altitudes) and strenuous walks with a heavy rucksack.
With his employer as primary sponsor, and co-sponsorship from Men’s Advisory Network –the male well-being charity, offering advice and support, and tackling depression in Western Australia (www.man.org.au/) that Pat is supporting in his climb - alongside several large Perth businesses, Pat began the ascent on 31 March –leaving from Ghat, Lukla, which is 2,800m above sea-level, and heading for the Base Camp.
The route he is taking is that led by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in May 1953. The successful climb –following the southern route is as dramatic in its risks as it is in its views. The Base Camp is located near the Khumbu Icefall –a dangerous river of ice at 5,486m- issuing from the Khumbu glacier whose fast-moving transitions can open new crevasses in the rock with no forewarning. The glacier can advance up to four feet each day in milder weather and the tumbling seracs (ice-blocks) it dispatches at random intervals range from car to hotel size lumps.
From Camp 2 onwards, much of the journey requires ropes and some serious climbing skills, and as the air steadily thins the climbers need to supplement their supply with bottled oxygen carried in their kit. After Camp 4 is the most daunting stage –the completely exposed knife-edge south-eastern ridge just before the 12m high almost-vertical rock-face of the Hillary Step at 8,790m –halfway between the South and actual Summits. From there to the ultimate peak it is loose, rocky ground, and climbers must adapt quickly from the rope climb to keeping a steady footing.
The climb was not without hair-raising moments, as Pat’s blog records:
“…masses of ice and snow came pouring down from above.. a really big wave –it was like we were in the channel as a 20ft clean-up set bore down…50m to the left was being decimated. The hissing of the ice afterwards…The sense of shock, and then relief was almost the same.
…there is a massive and constant roar coming from Everest –the jet-stream winds are in full flight! The winds were blowing snow UP the north face of Nuptse –like a reverse avalanche. Camp 3 is uninhabitable at the moment because of the winds, as is C4.”
The adverse weather delayed the party by a day, but the 8,850m summit was proudly reached on May 17th at 1300h Perth time (0500h GMT). Standing on the summit, an exhausted but euphoric Pat recorded his audio blog –the microphone on his PDA buffeted by the wind:
“It was quite a long climb [the final push to the summit] –took nearly an hour …it was slow-going, and a bit frustrating. It’s pretty cold up on the summit, there’s a bit of a wind blowing. The views are really spectacular.
Thanks to Sumit and Lakpa …Thanks for helping me get up here! I want to say thank you to the sponsors, to the guys at RPS…all these individuals who’ve supported me.”
Gruelling weather delayed the subsequent descent, but Pat finally reached base on 19th May, thankful to have arrived safely after the combination of sheer physical exhaustion and a potential 1000m drop as he descended the Lhotse Face. Weary but elated, he noted:
“…this exhaustion –the kind where after taking ten steps you have to sit down in the snow and search somewhere deep within to find the energy to repeat the process –But that doesn’t matter now; we are back safely.. if you want to love your fellow man, climb Mount Everest with him, and you’ll love him for the rest of your life!”
And as for what lofty target is in his sights for the next challenge – we will have to wait and see…
'Through the lens - ' was a new approach to boosting personnel engagement across several levels - chiefly making sure that everyday employees had a recognised voice and that more senior staff knew who they were and had real insight into the scope and ability of their input. On a further point, it was important to show people that the stereotypes of pigeon-hole-ing can be broken through and discarded. Pragmatism rules and the interviews show that the people they feature did not follow the bland, smooth path to progression that readers find hard to identify with, and did not always expect to have the opportunities to help them achieve what they have.
Through the lens – a trainee surveyor’s inside view (2020)
JENNIFER BERRILL
Your career path might not always take you on the course you anticipated, especially as a new graduate caught in the catch-22 of needing to secure a job in your chosen field, and not yet having the experience employers demand. However, taking a sideways step into something unfamiliar might just set your career journey on a fulfilling new path, as Criminology graduate Jennifer Berrill’s story demonstrates.
The first female surveyor in her employer's Stafford Geomatics team, Jennifer joined RPS in 2018 and is now working towards a Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying. She currently spends most of her time on site for the M6 Smart Motorways survey project, supporting client: Kier. You can see some of our interview highlights below, and the full interview here
How did you first learn about RPS?
When I finished university. I needed something that I could really get my teeth into. I couldn't utilise my degree at the time because of the lack of job opportunities I could go into fresh as a graduate so I thought: 'Well, I’ll change. Change my route and go and learn something different.'
What three words would you use to describe your first impression of RPS?
My first impression was great possibilities in a professional company. My experience is the same so far.
How has your experience changed your perspective on your long-term career vision?
It’s been really interesting. I've actually found it to be quite a passion. I never really knew anything about surveying before, but I’ve been given so many different opportunities to learn. I never thought it would be anything that I would ever work in, yet here I am!
What one thing in your life has had the most influence on your career path and goal?
I've been offered a lot of training opportunities and it’s definitely changed my long-term career goals, so I want to progress even more.
What’s the first thing you would do if you were RPS CEO for a day?
I’ve only been here just over 18 months and I feel like there's just so much of the company that I don't know yet. I would be trying to get different people from different parts of RPS together and tell me all about everything they do because there's lots of wonderful things that people are doing out there.
Chris Alcock, Survey Manager says:
“We have taken the approach with trainees that it is better to find the right person for RPS, someone that we know will fit into the team rather than taking on someone with more experience that may not so easily adopt the RPS behaviours. Jenny is the Geomatics team’s first female surveyor. The industry is very much male dominated and there is a big push towards trying to encourage more women into engineering roles, we see Jenny as an excellent role model in this respect.
The M6 project relies on rotation of the senior survey team and Jenny has been a constant presence allowing smooth transition during handover. She has built up strong client relations and knows the project very well.”
JENNIFER BERRILL
Your career path might not always take you on the course you anticipated, especially as a new graduate caught in the catch-22 of needing to secure a job in your chosen field, and not yet having the experience employers demand. However, taking a sideways step into something unfamiliar might just set your career journey on a fulfilling new path, as Criminology graduate Jennifer Berrill’s story demonstrates.
The first female surveyor in her employer's Stafford Geomatics team, Jennifer joined RPS in 2018 and is now working towards a Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying. She currently spends most of her time on site for the M6 Smart Motorways survey project, supporting client: Kier. You can see some of our interview highlights below, and the full interview here
How did you first learn about RPS?
When I finished university. I needed something that I could really get my teeth into. I couldn't utilise my degree at the time because of the lack of job opportunities I could go into fresh as a graduate so I thought: 'Well, I’ll change. Change my route and go and learn something different.'
What three words would you use to describe your first impression of RPS?
My first impression was great possibilities in a professional company. My experience is the same so far.
How has your experience changed your perspective on your long-term career vision?
It’s been really interesting. I've actually found it to be quite a passion. I never really knew anything about surveying before, but I’ve been given so many different opportunities to learn. I never thought it would be anything that I would ever work in, yet here I am!
What one thing in your life has had the most influence on your career path and goal?
I've been offered a lot of training opportunities and it’s definitely changed my long-term career goals, so I want to progress even more.
What’s the first thing you would do if you were RPS CEO for a day?
I’ve only been here just over 18 months and I feel like there's just so much of the company that I don't know yet. I would be trying to get different people from different parts of RPS together and tell me all about everything they do because there's lots of wonderful things that people are doing out there.
Chris Alcock, Survey Manager says:
“We have taken the approach with trainees that it is better to find the right person for RPS, someone that we know will fit into the team rather than taking on someone with more experience that may not so easily adopt the RPS behaviours. Jenny is the Geomatics team’s first female surveyor. The industry is very much male dominated and there is a big push towards trying to encourage more women into engineering roles, we see Jenny as an excellent role model in this respect.
The M6 project relies on rotation of the senior survey team and Jenny has been a constant presence allowing smooth transition during handover. She has built up strong client relations and knows the project very well.”
Licence to build when there’s bats in the belfry (2018)
MATT COOK
Principal Ecologist Matt Cook enjoys a wealth of experience in surveying and researching bats in particular, and designing mitigation and compensation where their habitats could be affected by development.
As well as leading the ‘The Nottinghamshire Barbastelle Project’ and The Bat Conservation Trust National Nathusius Pipistrelle Project for Nottinghamshire Bat Group, which are both voluntary Science, Education and Conservation projects licensed by Natural England, Matt also holds the specialist Natural England Bats in Churches Class Licence and a Bat Low Impact Class Licence (BLICL). He is also licensed to work in Wales, and also able to inspect trees at height for bats.
Besides his very active involvement with Midlands bat conservation groups in his spare time, Matt’s interest in bats and barn owls has also taken him overseas through his involvement with the Romanian Centre for Bat Research and Conservation, the Hungarian Barn Owl Foundation, and the Polish Nietoperek Winter Bat Census, where he helped count some 36,000 hibernating bats!
"Bats account for around one fifth of all mammal species globally, comprising some 18 species in the UK, including the barbastelle bat – one of the UK’s rarest and most enigmatic mammal species" explains Matt "Such rare animals are therefore highly protected and their presence can have significant implications for some developments."
"However, for those bat species that are slightly more ‘common’ and are often found roosting in buildings and other structures, it is now possible for development activity affecting small numbers of them to be permitted in England, under the strict guidance of a registered BLICL consultant. Essentially, the BLICL means that this bat ecologist has ‘pre-qualified’ to hold this special licence by virtue of their experience, which significanty speeds up the process for developers; BLICL consultants can register sites and undertake work affecting a small number of bats much more quickly than via standard licensing processes."
"Mind you, it is important to note that a BLICL can only be used following a robust suite of bat surveys and once planning consents are in place" Matt continues "and licensable work must still adhere to strict criteria; bat populations have suffered significant declines since the mid 20th Century and although this licence is intended to improve what can be an onerous protected species licensing system, it isn’t intended to undo all the hard work of bat conservationists in recent decades."
MATT COOK
Principal Ecologist Matt Cook enjoys a wealth of experience in surveying and researching bats in particular, and designing mitigation and compensation where their habitats could be affected by development.
As well as leading the ‘The Nottinghamshire Barbastelle Project’ and The Bat Conservation Trust National Nathusius Pipistrelle Project for Nottinghamshire Bat Group, which are both voluntary Science, Education and Conservation projects licensed by Natural England, Matt also holds the specialist Natural England Bats in Churches Class Licence and a Bat Low Impact Class Licence (BLICL). He is also licensed to work in Wales, and also able to inspect trees at height for bats.
Besides his very active involvement with Midlands bat conservation groups in his spare time, Matt’s interest in bats and barn owls has also taken him overseas through his involvement with the Romanian Centre for Bat Research and Conservation, the Hungarian Barn Owl Foundation, and the Polish Nietoperek Winter Bat Census, where he helped count some 36,000 hibernating bats!
"Bats account for around one fifth of all mammal species globally, comprising some 18 species in the UK, including the barbastelle bat – one of the UK’s rarest and most enigmatic mammal species" explains Matt "Such rare animals are therefore highly protected and their presence can have significant implications for some developments."
"However, for those bat species that are slightly more ‘common’ and are often found roosting in buildings and other structures, it is now possible for development activity affecting small numbers of them to be permitted in England, under the strict guidance of a registered BLICL consultant. Essentially, the BLICL means that this bat ecologist has ‘pre-qualified’ to hold this special licence by virtue of their experience, which significanty speeds up the process for developers; BLICL consultants can register sites and undertake work affecting a small number of bats much more quickly than via standard licensing processes."
"Mind you, it is important to note that a BLICL can only be used following a robust suite of bat surveys and once planning consents are in place" Matt continues "and licensable work must still adhere to strict criteria; bat populations have suffered significant declines since the mid 20th Century and although this licence is intended to improve what can be an onerous protected species licensing system, it isn’t intended to undo all the hard work of bat conservationists in recent decades."
Surveyor wins Silver for Butterfly in Budapest (2017)
PAUL WILKES - British Masters 200m Butterfly record holder 2017
PAUL WILKES - British Masters 200m Butterfly record holder 2017
Senior Building Surveyor Paul Wilkes has recently won Silver at the FINA World Masters Championships in Budapest, in the 200m Butterfly category.
“I am delighted to have competed in the 17th FINA World Masters Championships in Budapest and to have won a silver medal in my age group (30 – 34 years) in the 200m butterfly, particularly against so many high-class athletes” says Paul “and I am extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed to this success and I am very thankful for the support and encouragement I have received from my colleagues at RPS.”
Paul currently holds the British Masters Swimming Record in 200m Butterfly for the 30-34 years age group and won two Gold medals in the 100m and 200m Butterfly events at the London 2016 European Masters Aquatics Championships and two national titles (100m and 200m Butterfly) at the British Gas ASA National Masters Championships.
What attracted you to swimming originally, and then to compete professionally as a swimmer?
I have always been a massive water baby and even my zodiac sign is aquatic themed (I am a Piscean!). I started swimming at a young age and I absolutely loved it. Having joined my local competitive club racing came naturally and, as I developed in the water, I kept progressing to a higher level. I still enjoy the sense of freedom and peacefulness you gain from swimming and I have a great affinity with the water.
“I am delighted to have competed in the 17th FINA World Masters Championships in Budapest and to have won a silver medal in my age group (30 – 34 years) in the 200m butterfly, particularly against so many high-class athletes” says Paul “and I am extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed to this success and I am very thankful for the support and encouragement I have received from my colleagues at RPS.”
Paul currently holds the British Masters Swimming Record in 200m Butterfly for the 30-34 years age group and won two Gold medals in the 100m and 200m Butterfly events at the London 2016 European Masters Aquatics Championships and two national titles (100m and 200m Butterfly) at the British Gas ASA National Masters Championships.
What attracted you to swimming originally, and then to compete professionally as a swimmer?
I have always been a massive water baby and even my zodiac sign is aquatic themed (I am a Piscean!). I started swimming at a young age and I absolutely loved it. Having joined my local competitive club racing came naturally and, as I developed in the water, I kept progressing to a higher level. I still enjoy the sense of freedom and peacefulness you gain from swimming and I have a great affinity with the water.
From an amateur viewpoint Butterfly seems as though it must be one of the most complex to coordinate in the water and manage successfully with some speed! What made you choose it as your preferred competitive swimming stroke?
I actually started out as a breaststroker but as butterfly evolved from the breaststroke the two are closely related. The butterfly stroke has a reputation for being hard to learn and quickly exhausting. Yet when you have mastered the stroke, swimming a few lengths of butterfly can be a lot of fun because of its spectacular and powerful movements.
How did you prepare and train for the recent Championships in Hungary, especially around the challenges and demands of a full-time job, and particularly one that requires flexible timing and locations to meet the needs of clients?!
In order to fit swimming around work, a lot of self-discipline is needed. I always have a training plan and I have to adapt this to fit around my work schedule. Having an end goal, such as the Masters World Championships, is a real motivation.
What so far has been the most exciting challenge?
My most exciting sporting challenges have been racing in my first international competitions held in London and Budapest. Professionally, my greatest challenge was completing my Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) to become a Chartered Member of the RICS. During this period, I planned and managed my time to achieve a good balance between work commitments, my studies and maintaining other interests.
Building Surveying and swimming don’t draw an immediate parallel - do you find any crossovers between your sporting and working life?
Swimmers have goals that are detailed, under their own control and down to the hundredth of a second. Building Surveyors are also goal orientated. They require the ability to critically analyse situations and, essentially, their core task is to solve problems. Sometimes work situations require someone who will “think outside the box”. In swimming, more than any other sport, sheer will and determination outweigh skill and swimmers know that they succeed or fail based on how hard they have worked – how much effort they put into every single practice.
When did you first realise you wanted to work in building surveying? Was it always a clear-set career path or one that attracted you from another calling?
My interest in a career based upon building surveying has been long-standing, which is reflected in my degree course selection. Building Surveying is one of the widest areas of surveying practice and, as a Chartered Building Surveyor, I enjoy being involved in all aspects of property and construction. As opposed to other professions, surveyors get to see a tangible product of their hard work and endeavours.
What are you currently working on for RPS?
I am a Senior Building Surveyor within the RPS Project Management, Cost and Building Consultancy team in the Birmingham Bradford Street office where we offer building surveying and project management services to a broad range of clients across all sectors. I am currently working as Lead Project Manager on behalf of a national gym provider and acting as Employer’s Agent and Contract Administrator on the refurbishment of office accommodation in Birmingham’s Central Business District. To emphasise the variety of my role, I am also in the process of specifying sympathetic repairs to a listed building and negotiating a schedule of dilapidations on an industrial unit.
What do you most enjoy about working with RPS, and is there a risk of them losing you to full-time competitive swimming?!
The nature of the work at RPS is exciting, challenging and fulfilling. The projects we undertake add real value to and deliver extra performance from built assets. I feel lucky that I am able to combine my professional career with my sporting passion.
Showing your corporate face is a conscious presentation. It fits a determined veneer. Strong team relationships work best when your colleagues are more than the deal-brokering salespeople, or technical genius fronting IT. Getting that chip beneath the glaze means understanding the mind and experience behind someone's achievements and motivation.
Oenz releases song for UK cancer charity (2010)
PAUL OWENS - Lead singer of Oenz
Paul Owens, lead singer of Welsh indie band Oenz has announced the band's debut with its single ‘Help Me’ to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. The song is available for download worldwide.
He was inspired to create the song to raise money for the charities after he lost an uncle and an extremely close friend from the disease and was himself diagnosed with an early stage of melanoma last year but fortunately made a full recovery.
“The loss of my great friend to prostate cancer, left a long lasting impression on my life and this has inspired us to release this song to help raise awareness and much needed support for research into cancer prevention” he says.
“I know charity songs have been done before, but we’re not a well-known band, we’re just ordinary people off the street trying to make a difference, so I hope the public gets behind this."
Paul grew up in Christchurch, New Zealand and left for South Africa in 2000 to follow a career in the music industry. He worked for the record company, Select Music in Cape Town as their senior designer on the labels’ CD/DVD artwork releases before later moving to Pontypool, South Wales.
Oenz is an unsigned band not associated with any major record company. They have set up their own independent record label Oenz Music. Help Me is is distributed by UK based indie music distributor Ditto Music which boasts 7 UK top 40 singles all with unsigned artists. The single has been released exclusively as a digital download to reduce production costs, therefore resulting in more funds going directly to Cancer Research UK.
His wife Celia, who plays piano and keyboard in the band, said an estimated 12.7 million people had been diagnosed with cancer worldwide in 2008 and that 7.6 million of them had subsequently died. “I feel like too many lives are cut short by cancer. Most people know someone who has been touched by it”, she explains.
Now all the net proceeds from download sales of their new song will go to Cancer Research UK, one of the world’s leading cancer research organisations.
Oenz have also set up a dedicated donation page on the charity support website Just Giving, as an alternative to buying the download single.
Paul says: “I want to thank everyone who downloads the song or donates money. I really appreciate any support that is given to us (Oenz) in helping Cancer Research UK.”
PAUL OWENS - Lead singer of Oenz
Paul Owens, lead singer of Welsh indie band Oenz has announced the band's debut with its single ‘Help Me’ to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. The song is available for download worldwide.
He was inspired to create the song to raise money for the charities after he lost an uncle and an extremely close friend from the disease and was himself diagnosed with an early stage of melanoma last year but fortunately made a full recovery.
“The loss of my great friend to prostate cancer, left a long lasting impression on my life and this has inspired us to release this song to help raise awareness and much needed support for research into cancer prevention” he says.
“I know charity songs have been done before, but we’re not a well-known band, we’re just ordinary people off the street trying to make a difference, so I hope the public gets behind this."
Paul grew up in Christchurch, New Zealand and left for South Africa in 2000 to follow a career in the music industry. He worked for the record company, Select Music in Cape Town as their senior designer on the labels’ CD/DVD artwork releases before later moving to Pontypool, South Wales.
Oenz is an unsigned band not associated with any major record company. They have set up their own independent record label Oenz Music. Help Me is is distributed by UK based indie music distributor Ditto Music which boasts 7 UK top 40 singles all with unsigned artists. The single has been released exclusively as a digital download to reduce production costs, therefore resulting in more funds going directly to Cancer Research UK.
His wife Celia, who plays piano and keyboard in the band, said an estimated 12.7 million people had been diagnosed with cancer worldwide in 2008 and that 7.6 million of them had subsequently died. “I feel like too many lives are cut short by cancer. Most people know someone who has been touched by it”, she explains.
Now all the net proceeds from download sales of their new song will go to Cancer Research UK, one of the world’s leading cancer research organisations.
Oenz have also set up a dedicated donation page on the charity support website Just Giving, as an alternative to buying the download single.
Paul says: “I want to thank everyone who downloads the song or donates money. I really appreciate any support that is given to us (Oenz) in helping Cancer Research UK.”
Hoogenraad NETS award for road safety (2015)
MARTIN HOOGENRAAD - Transport safety consultant
World Health Organisation figures show that 1.2 million people are fatally injured each year on roads globally, with non-fatal road traffic accident injury statistics worldwide exceeding 20 million annually. As traffic volumes increase the projected annual figure for road transport accident fatalities by 2030 is a possible 2.3 million unless serious focused action is taken to reduce the risks significantly.
More than 90% of road traffic deaths and injuries occur in low and middle income countries and a number of large businesses operating globally are amongst those working together to promote initiatives to reduce these statistics through the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS).
Around 3,500 businesses take part in NETS’ annual Drive Safely to Work Week – held in October – the latest campaign focused on the need to make employee road safety a part of an employer’s safety culture.
Consultant Martin Hoogenraad from Delft has been seconded to Shell since 2009 where he works closely with Shell’s Global Road Safety Manager, and has informed Shell’s input to the NETS’ Comprehensive Guide to Road Safety.
The Guide was developed as part of NETS’ mission to assist employers in advancing global road safety through providing guidance on various stages of road safety program development.
Road transport is one of the highest risk activities for Shell. Over the years Shell has managed to drastically reduce the number of road transport fatalities and injuries.
By helping to develop the NETS Guide, Shell shares its road safety knowledge with other companies, thereby contributing to the WHO’s road safety goal to save millions of lives.
Martin was honoured with a road safety award at the annual NETS meeting recently held in Orlando, recognising his valuable contribution to the NETS Guide. “It was a surprise and a great honour for me to receive the award. I see it as an acknowledgement that more and more companies and organisations realize that road transport is one of the most dangerous activities for their employees and contractors and that appropriate controls need to be put in place to reduce the risks” says Martin.
MARTIN HOOGENRAAD - Transport safety consultant
World Health Organisation figures show that 1.2 million people are fatally injured each year on roads globally, with non-fatal road traffic accident injury statistics worldwide exceeding 20 million annually. As traffic volumes increase the projected annual figure for road transport accident fatalities by 2030 is a possible 2.3 million unless serious focused action is taken to reduce the risks significantly.
More than 90% of road traffic deaths and injuries occur in low and middle income countries and a number of large businesses operating globally are amongst those working together to promote initiatives to reduce these statistics through the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS).
Around 3,500 businesses take part in NETS’ annual Drive Safely to Work Week – held in October – the latest campaign focused on the need to make employee road safety a part of an employer’s safety culture.
Consultant Martin Hoogenraad from Delft has been seconded to Shell since 2009 where he works closely with Shell’s Global Road Safety Manager, and has informed Shell’s input to the NETS’ Comprehensive Guide to Road Safety.
The Guide was developed as part of NETS’ mission to assist employers in advancing global road safety through providing guidance on various stages of road safety program development.
Road transport is one of the highest risk activities for Shell. Over the years Shell has managed to drastically reduce the number of road transport fatalities and injuries.
By helping to develop the NETS Guide, Shell shares its road safety knowledge with other companies, thereby contributing to the WHO’s road safety goal to save millions of lives.
Martin was honoured with a road safety award at the annual NETS meeting recently held in Orlando, recognising his valuable contribution to the NETS Guide. “It was a surprise and a great honour for me to receive the award. I see it as an acknowledgement that more and more companies and organisations realize that road transport is one of the most dangerous activities for their employees and contractors and that appropriate controls need to be put in place to reduce the risks” says Martin.
A man of structure (2011)
PROF. DON MCQUILLAN
PROF. DON MCQUILLAN
Don McQuillan has been elected to Fellowship of the prestigious Irish Academy of Engineering “in recognition of his distinguished career and contribution to engineering”. The Conferral Ceremony and Dinner was held on 24 February in the Members Dining Room of the RDS (Royal Dublin Society) and was attended by many eminent members of the Irish Academy of Engineering including the President.
Don was one of 11 new Fellows to receive the Certificate – all from different engineering and scientific disciplines – and reports "feeling a little overawed since many other recipients were either CEO’s or university Professors! Being invited to join the Academy is a considerable honour and I very much welcome the opportunity to 'fly the flag'.”
During his career Don has been responsible for numerous landmark and award-winning projects including the Belfast Waterfront Hall in the mid-90s and the Odyssey (Belfast’s Millennium Project). He is heavily involved in the regeneration of Titanic Quarter, the largest riverside project of its kind in Europe. He also spearheads healthcare work and is currently responsible for the delivery of the £270m New Acute Hospital at Enniskillen and in the bid for the new £400m Royal Liverpool Hospital.
Don was born and spent his early years in Zambia. His ambition to become a civil/structural engineer was always inspired by the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge. He was subsequently educated at Bangor Grammar School and Queens University Belfast graduating in 1975 with First Class Honours. His 36 year career to-date has been gained in consultancy within the same practice. He joined Kirk McClure Morton following graduation, became a Partner in 1989 and following acquisition by RPS in 2004, has been responsible as a Director for the project management and delivery of a wide spectrum of civil and structural engineering schemes.
He was responsible in the 1980s for the structural design of the first generation Queens University Wave Energy device. Other specialisms include bridges, foundations and Forensic Engineering and he is in demand as an Expert Witness. Don is particularly enthused with the restoration of historic structures and buildings. The Dredge footbridge at Caledon, which dates back to the 1840s, is a classic example and is considered by Don to be a “career highlight”.
Don is the author of many published technical papers and has been the recipient of numerous Institution awards culminating in Fellowship of the prestigious Irish Academy of Engineering.
He has also been a visiting lecturer at both Queens University Belfast and the University of Ulster. He currently chairs the Journal Editorial Board of the Institution of Structural Engineers and sits on the Executive Board. For many years he has chaired professional review panels.
Don’s family is very swimming orientated, and his wife Ruth is a coach and Swimming Development Officer for NI. The youngest of their three sons, a current Irish butterfly record holder, has recently retired from international competition to pursue his career.
In his spare time Don is a Governor of the Logos School of English Education in Limassol, Cyprus. He is also a keen motorcyclist and is a RoSPA qualified advanced riding instructor.
Don was one of 11 new Fellows to receive the Certificate – all from different engineering and scientific disciplines – and reports "feeling a little overawed since many other recipients were either CEO’s or university Professors! Being invited to join the Academy is a considerable honour and I very much welcome the opportunity to 'fly the flag'.”
During his career Don has been responsible for numerous landmark and award-winning projects including the Belfast Waterfront Hall in the mid-90s and the Odyssey (Belfast’s Millennium Project). He is heavily involved in the regeneration of Titanic Quarter, the largest riverside project of its kind in Europe. He also spearheads healthcare work and is currently responsible for the delivery of the £270m New Acute Hospital at Enniskillen and in the bid for the new £400m Royal Liverpool Hospital.
Don was born and spent his early years in Zambia. His ambition to become a civil/structural engineer was always inspired by the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge. He was subsequently educated at Bangor Grammar School and Queens University Belfast graduating in 1975 with First Class Honours. His 36 year career to-date has been gained in consultancy within the same practice. He joined Kirk McClure Morton following graduation, became a Partner in 1989 and following acquisition by RPS in 2004, has been responsible as a Director for the project management and delivery of a wide spectrum of civil and structural engineering schemes.
He was responsible in the 1980s for the structural design of the first generation Queens University Wave Energy device. Other specialisms include bridges, foundations and Forensic Engineering and he is in demand as an Expert Witness. Don is particularly enthused with the restoration of historic structures and buildings. The Dredge footbridge at Caledon, which dates back to the 1840s, is a classic example and is considered by Don to be a “career highlight”.
Don is the author of many published technical papers and has been the recipient of numerous Institution awards culminating in Fellowship of the prestigious Irish Academy of Engineering.
He has also been a visiting lecturer at both Queens University Belfast and the University of Ulster. He currently chairs the Journal Editorial Board of the Institution of Structural Engineers and sits on the Executive Board. For many years he has chaired professional review panels.
Don’s family is very swimming orientated, and his wife Ruth is a coach and Swimming Development Officer for NI. The youngest of their three sons, a current Irish butterfly record holder, has recently retired from international competition to pursue his career.
In his spare time Don is a Governor of the Logos School of English Education in Limassol, Cyprus. He is also a keen motorcyclist and is a RoSPA qualified advanced riding instructor.
Taking Hillingdon Underground to IKEA via the Park and Ride (2007)
BEN FORD
Ben Ford has been named Young Planner of the Year by RTPI and Planning Magazine. Ben joined RPS after he left UCL in 1998 where he studied Town and Country Planning (and won the MRTPI award for his diploma). Colleagues speak highly of his enthusiasm and commitment, tempered with a constructive and client-focused approach and a good instinct for planning decisions. During his time with RPS he has also completed a diploma in Survey from Reading University and acted as planning manager for B & Q during a 10-month secondment.
Ben’s projects have included mixed-use developments including schools and care facilities, as well as retail, office and residential units. He started his career with a focus on retail units including Sainsburys, Comet and Wickes before undertaking projects incorporating a variety of community uses. His recent clients include IKEA, Barratt Homes, Development Securities and Cornet Group.
The 10-month secondment to B & Q was at a critical time, during the draft production of PPS6, encouraging the sustainable evolution of town centres, including through the introduction of mixed-use developments to fully exploit the potential of urban regions, and gave Ben the opportunity to coordinate the company’s political lobbying programme as well as providing planning advice for their development proposals as Planning Manager. This was not his first experience of working with B & Q as he had advised them on previous projects including B & Q developments in Romford, Gillingham, Eastbourne and Weston-Super-Mare
His particular preference in terms of planning projects is for mixed-use developments –for the variety of issues that they comprise in terms of energy and the environment as well as employment, retail and residential matters. Ben relishes the challenges that these projects raise: "The issue of energy and sustainability is constantly evolving and as a result we are having to advise clients on new requirements and technologies which are necessary to integrate into new development."
With the increasing focus on moving construction into a greener and more ecologically harmonious future, these are key factors playing a forefront role in his projects. Ben is currently advising Barratt Homes on plans to redevelop a former British Gas site in Croydon (Wandle Park Village, Purley Way). This is one of Croydon’s largest sites, and the redevelopment will include 760 homes, a nursery school, and a primary care trust facility. To enable this project to move ahead successfully, a full environmental assessment has been undertaken and the five-hectare site will need to be decontaminated, before the River Wandle is deculverted across the whole site, and links to Wandle Park are opened up.
This is not Ben’s only large-scale project for Barratt: the regeneration of the Stonegrove and Spur Road Estate in Edgware is to comprise 1000 residential units across all tenures, and a range of community and recreation facilities, as well as religious buildings. The new development will sit beside the recently opened Lord Foster London Academy. Ben is also currently advising Barratt on West Hendon Estate regeneration for 2100 new residential units, the redevelopment of Chelsea Barracks, and part of the Riverside Quarter site in Wandsworth.
His project for Development Securities is for a new Oriental City development in north London (Colindale) on the existing emporium site. The existing store is already a landmark for many visitors to the city and is incredibly popular with the existing north London expatriate oriental community. The redevelopment will not only feature a replacement 10,000m2 Oriental City facility, but is also to include 520 homes on top of a residential podium, bulky goods retail covering 17000m2, a fitness facility, and a nursery and primary school. The new design has been endorsed by CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) with local Feng Shui designers being commissioned for the new centre.
Ben is also leading a project for the first multi-storey mixed use IKEA development – including a huge 25,000m2 store, 240 flats, replacement of the park and ride facility, and a new entrance to the next door Hillingdon Underground station in London –providing flat-pack for the new flat and an easy commute. He was project manager for the application, and the planning and retail aspects of the project including preparing the environmental statement.
BEN FORD
Ben Ford has been named Young Planner of the Year by RTPI and Planning Magazine. Ben joined RPS after he left UCL in 1998 where he studied Town and Country Planning (and won the MRTPI award for his diploma). Colleagues speak highly of his enthusiasm and commitment, tempered with a constructive and client-focused approach and a good instinct for planning decisions. During his time with RPS he has also completed a diploma in Survey from Reading University and acted as planning manager for B & Q during a 10-month secondment.
Ben’s projects have included mixed-use developments including schools and care facilities, as well as retail, office and residential units. He started his career with a focus on retail units including Sainsburys, Comet and Wickes before undertaking projects incorporating a variety of community uses. His recent clients include IKEA, Barratt Homes, Development Securities and Cornet Group.
The 10-month secondment to B & Q was at a critical time, during the draft production of PPS6, encouraging the sustainable evolution of town centres, including through the introduction of mixed-use developments to fully exploit the potential of urban regions, and gave Ben the opportunity to coordinate the company’s political lobbying programme as well as providing planning advice for their development proposals as Planning Manager. This was not his first experience of working with B & Q as he had advised them on previous projects including B & Q developments in Romford, Gillingham, Eastbourne and Weston-Super-Mare
His particular preference in terms of planning projects is for mixed-use developments –for the variety of issues that they comprise in terms of energy and the environment as well as employment, retail and residential matters. Ben relishes the challenges that these projects raise: "The issue of energy and sustainability is constantly evolving and as a result we are having to advise clients on new requirements and technologies which are necessary to integrate into new development."
With the increasing focus on moving construction into a greener and more ecologically harmonious future, these are key factors playing a forefront role in his projects. Ben is currently advising Barratt Homes on plans to redevelop a former British Gas site in Croydon (Wandle Park Village, Purley Way). This is one of Croydon’s largest sites, and the redevelopment will include 760 homes, a nursery school, and a primary care trust facility. To enable this project to move ahead successfully, a full environmental assessment has been undertaken and the five-hectare site will need to be decontaminated, before the River Wandle is deculverted across the whole site, and links to Wandle Park are opened up.
This is not Ben’s only large-scale project for Barratt: the regeneration of the Stonegrove and Spur Road Estate in Edgware is to comprise 1000 residential units across all tenures, and a range of community and recreation facilities, as well as religious buildings. The new development will sit beside the recently opened Lord Foster London Academy. Ben is also currently advising Barratt on West Hendon Estate regeneration for 2100 new residential units, the redevelopment of Chelsea Barracks, and part of the Riverside Quarter site in Wandsworth.
His project for Development Securities is for a new Oriental City development in north London (Colindale) on the existing emporium site. The existing store is already a landmark for many visitors to the city and is incredibly popular with the existing north London expatriate oriental community. The redevelopment will not only feature a replacement 10,000m2 Oriental City facility, but is also to include 520 homes on top of a residential podium, bulky goods retail covering 17000m2, a fitness facility, and a nursery and primary school. The new design has been endorsed by CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) with local Feng Shui designers being commissioned for the new centre.
Ben is also leading a project for the first multi-storey mixed use IKEA development – including a huge 25,000m2 store, 240 flats, replacement of the park and ride facility, and a new entrance to the next door Hillingdon Underground station in London –providing flat-pack for the new flat and an easy commute. He was project manager for the application, and the planning and retail aspects of the project including preparing the environmental statement.
Footing an impressive performance on the field.(2007)
DAVID CONWAY - Harrogate Railway AFC central midfielder
Unibond Division One North side Harrogate Railway AFC have been drawn against Mansfield Town FC (Coca Cola League 2) in the Second Round Proper of the most prestigious domestic cup competition in the world - the FA Cup. Playing for Rail’ will be none other than Leeds Town Planner, David Conway.
David, a central midfielder, has been at the club for just over two years (but missed most of last season due to a broken ankle). This season David has been a prominent player in the team’s cup success, scoring the club’s first goal of the run, away at Esh Winning, and going on to start in every round since. To get to this stage Rail have negotiated six rounds, beating four teams from higher leagues, including their more illustrious local rivals Harrogate Town FC (Blue Square North) who, until meeting Railway in early November, had remained undefeated this season.
The national media feel that the players of Harrogate Railway are quickly gaining a reputation for punching above their weight, with victory (vs Droylsden FC - Blue Square Premier) in the First Round Proper - the stage at which League clubs join the competition, adding to this belief.
Rail’ have a history of achievement in the FA Cup, in 2002 they exceeded all expectations when they made it to the second round of the competition before losing out to Bristol City in front of the Sky TV cameras. Against all the odds they are back there again and are now just one victory away from the Third Round, when the giants of English league football enter the hat.
If victorious, a place in the hat for the Third Round draw is on offer, where Rail’ could end up pitting their wits against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal.
DAVID CONWAY - Harrogate Railway AFC central midfielder
Unibond Division One North side Harrogate Railway AFC have been drawn against Mansfield Town FC (Coca Cola League 2) in the Second Round Proper of the most prestigious domestic cup competition in the world - the FA Cup. Playing for Rail’ will be none other than Leeds Town Planner, David Conway.
David, a central midfielder, has been at the club for just over two years (but missed most of last season due to a broken ankle). This season David has been a prominent player in the team’s cup success, scoring the club’s first goal of the run, away at Esh Winning, and going on to start in every round since. To get to this stage Rail have negotiated six rounds, beating four teams from higher leagues, including their more illustrious local rivals Harrogate Town FC (Blue Square North) who, until meeting Railway in early November, had remained undefeated this season.
The national media feel that the players of Harrogate Railway are quickly gaining a reputation for punching above their weight, with victory (vs Droylsden FC - Blue Square Premier) in the First Round Proper - the stage at which League clubs join the competition, adding to this belief.
Rail’ have a history of achievement in the FA Cup, in 2002 they exceeded all expectations when they made it to the second round of the competition before losing out to Bristol City in front of the Sky TV cameras. Against all the odds they are back there again and are now just one victory away from the Third Round, when the giants of English league football enter the hat.
If victorious, a place in the hat for the Third Round draw is on offer, where Rail’ could end up pitting their wits against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal.
Phil McKenzie wins lifetime achievement award (2013)
PHIL MCKENZIE
Perth-based (AU) consultant - Phil McKenzie was recently presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from software partner CGE Risk Management Solutions at the CGE Industry Awards 2012 in the Netherlands.
The award recognises Phil’s outstanding achievement in educating and promoting barrier based risk management methods. The Lifetime Achievement Awards are awarded to a select number of people who have played an important role in the acceptance of barrier based methods in various industries and on various continents.
Phil has established a comprehensive technical standard and training program on how to conduct BowTie analysis, aimed at the offshore drilling industry. The technical standard and training are based on his research program, incorporating information from relevant industry and academic material.
“When we elected to adopt the BowTie analysis approach to Safety Case development as described in the IADC HSE Case Guidelines, I realised that there were little to no standards available either in the industry or academia. I wanted to describe how this methodology should be applied in practice. I therefore embarked on a research program to incorporate the best available information in this area from relevant industry and academic material. This way, we established a comprehensive technical standard on how to conduct BowTie analysis.
“To ensure a consistent approach within our worldwide offices, I subsequently provided training and technical mentoring to our offices around the world on this standard BowTie analysis approach” Phil said.
PHIL MCKENZIE
Perth-based (AU) consultant - Phil McKenzie was recently presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from software partner CGE Risk Management Solutions at the CGE Industry Awards 2012 in the Netherlands.
The award recognises Phil’s outstanding achievement in educating and promoting barrier based risk management methods. The Lifetime Achievement Awards are awarded to a select number of people who have played an important role in the acceptance of barrier based methods in various industries and on various continents.
Phil has established a comprehensive technical standard and training program on how to conduct BowTie analysis, aimed at the offshore drilling industry. The technical standard and training are based on his research program, incorporating information from relevant industry and academic material.
“When we elected to adopt the BowTie analysis approach to Safety Case development as described in the IADC HSE Case Guidelines, I realised that there were little to no standards available either in the industry or academia. I wanted to describe how this methodology should be applied in practice. I therefore embarked on a research program to incorporate the best available information in this area from relevant industry and academic material. This way, we established a comprehensive technical standard on how to conduct BowTie analysis.
“To ensure a consistent approach within our worldwide offices, I subsequently provided training and technical mentoring to our offices around the world on this standard BowTie analysis approach” Phil said.
Through the lens – a technician’s inside view (2019)
TRUDI MOSS
Meet Trudi Moss, the first technician to complete RPS' training and development progression program in South West Water. As Team Leader for one of the consultancy's South West Water contract teams, Trudi has been a key player in coaching and mentoring the team and has been integral in it becoming the best performing South West Water area for acoustic logging performance and outputs. Here, she takes some time out between on-site time in Cornwall for her current leakage detection project to talk about her career and what inspires her. You can see some of our interview highlights below, and the full interview here
What three words would you use to describe your first impression of RPS?
‘Big organisation’ and ‘impressive!’
How has your experience changed your perspective on your long-term career vision?
My long-term career vision was always to improve and challenge myself, if you work hard and have a passion for what you do then it gets noticed – positive recognition is always nice!
What one thing in your life has had the most influence on your career path and goal?
It has to be my family, I was a single parent for a long time during my children’s younger years and promised myself I would be a self-sufficient earner before they left school, thus providing them with a better life and showing them a path to success.
What’s the first thing you would do if you were RPS CEO for a day?
I wouldn’t know where to begin, there are so many areas within this company I am still learning about. Just within the water industry I would have to get back on the ground with the technicians, a bit like Undercover Boss, have a look and remind myself of the roles from start to finish regarding leakage.
RPS Water Regional Manager Gareth Ingram says “Trudi joined RPS in April 2018. She was a trainee Field Technician at the time and through performance, demonstrating and applying the correct behaviours, skillset, and consistently delivering for our client she has recently been appointed as a Team Leader on the contract.”
TRUDI MOSS
Meet Trudi Moss, the first technician to complete RPS' training and development progression program in South West Water. As Team Leader for one of the consultancy's South West Water contract teams, Trudi has been a key player in coaching and mentoring the team and has been integral in it becoming the best performing South West Water area for acoustic logging performance and outputs. Here, she takes some time out between on-site time in Cornwall for her current leakage detection project to talk about her career and what inspires her. You can see some of our interview highlights below, and the full interview here
What three words would you use to describe your first impression of RPS?
‘Big organisation’ and ‘impressive!’
How has your experience changed your perspective on your long-term career vision?
My long-term career vision was always to improve and challenge myself, if you work hard and have a passion for what you do then it gets noticed – positive recognition is always nice!
What one thing in your life has had the most influence on your career path and goal?
It has to be my family, I was a single parent for a long time during my children’s younger years and promised myself I would be a self-sufficient earner before they left school, thus providing them with a better life and showing them a path to success.
What’s the first thing you would do if you were RPS CEO for a day?
I wouldn’t know where to begin, there are so many areas within this company I am still learning about. Just within the water industry I would have to get back on the ground with the technicians, a bit like Undercover Boss, have a look and remind myself of the roles from start to finish regarding leakage.
RPS Water Regional Manager Gareth Ingram says “Trudi joined RPS in April 2018. She was a trainee Field Technician at the time and through performance, demonstrating and applying the correct behaviours, skillset, and consistently delivering for our client she has recently been appointed as a Team Leader on the contract.”
400 Santas looked Straight Ahead for Scoliosis (2017)
CONNIE WISEMAN
CONNIE WISEMAN
The chill in the winter air did nothing to deter the 400 festive cyclists, decked in red Santa suits as they took on the 7.5km night ride through Cork in Ireland last weekend.
Now in its second year, the event was established by Connie Wiseman and fellow cyclist and triathlete Neville Foott. This year’s event, sponsored by Ronan Daly Jermyn, has already raised over €14,000 for Straight Ahead in association with CMRF Crumlin Children's Hospital and donations are still flowing in.
Last year's first Cork Santa Cycle raised €16,500 for the The Laurel Charity Crew and facilitated some valued improvements for children on hospital waiting lists. In particular, the funds raised purchased a €12,000 orthopaedic scanner for South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital in Cork. So far, this has allowed 1,300 children in the region to get scanned and start treatment locally in comfort rather than having to travel to Dublin. Last year’s event was awarded Charity Event of the Year at the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards in March.
Speaking after the event, Connie said ‘"We’re delighted with the turn-out and support for our second Cork Santa Cycle. Thanks to all the amazing Santas that joined us on our trek around Cork city. It was a great experience for us and we are blown away by your generosity and support."
Straight Ahead for Scoliosis is a volunteer-led charity operating in association with the Crumlin Children's Hospital that helps fund the pro-bono treatment of children with curvature of the spine and related orthopaedic problems in Ireland. Surgeons and board members give their time, services and expertise freely to the charity. The charity has been able to support and perform 110 procedures on time-critical patients from across Ireland in the last four years, working at full capacity. Through charitable donation of implants from medical suppliers worldwide, time given freely and fundraising/donations, the charity can continue to perform essential spinal operations on young people most needing surgery.
Now in its second year, the event was established by Connie Wiseman and fellow cyclist and triathlete Neville Foott. This year’s event, sponsored by Ronan Daly Jermyn, has already raised over €14,000 for Straight Ahead in association with CMRF Crumlin Children's Hospital and donations are still flowing in.
Last year's first Cork Santa Cycle raised €16,500 for the The Laurel Charity Crew and facilitated some valued improvements for children on hospital waiting lists. In particular, the funds raised purchased a €12,000 orthopaedic scanner for South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital in Cork. So far, this has allowed 1,300 children in the region to get scanned and start treatment locally in comfort rather than having to travel to Dublin. Last year’s event was awarded Charity Event of the Year at the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards in March.
Speaking after the event, Connie said ‘"We’re delighted with the turn-out and support for our second Cork Santa Cycle. Thanks to all the amazing Santas that joined us on our trek around Cork city. It was a great experience for us and we are blown away by your generosity and support."
Straight Ahead for Scoliosis is a volunteer-led charity operating in association with the Crumlin Children's Hospital that helps fund the pro-bono treatment of children with curvature of the spine and related orthopaedic problems in Ireland. Surgeons and board members give their time, services and expertise freely to the charity. The charity has been able to support and perform 110 procedures on time-critical patients from across Ireland in the last four years, working at full capacity. Through charitable donation of implants from medical suppliers worldwide, time given freely and fundraising/donations, the charity can continue to perform essential spinal operations on young people most needing surgery.
Through the lens – an intern’s view of a great place to do great work (2019)
DHAWAL MEHTA
DHAWAL MEHTA
We catch up with RPS Strategy Intern: MBA student Dhawal Mehta to find out how he would describe RPS, what it’s like working with the Group Leadership Team, and what he would do if he were CEO for a day…
You can see some of our interview highlights below.
Three words to describe your first impression of RPS
‘Complex’, ‘candid’, [and] ‘cordial’.
Three words to describe your impressions now
‘Cordial’ remains the same. ‘Complex’ has changed to ‘unique’. This firm by its very nature has to be complex, but it gives it a unique taste in the way it offers a diversity of services to our diversity of clientele. And ‘candid’ has changed to ‘pragmatic’: people are actually looking to solve problems rather than overlooking them.
What's it been like working with RPS?
I would say the culture, and work ethics are important. That good work:life balance is very apparent here. I’ve had really good interactions, the culture and the people here are great. It's been an amazing experience. And the very fact that people here are always keen to help others is something which is very important to me.
How’s it been working with Judith (Cottrell, Group Strategy Director) and the Group Leadership Team?
I really liked how people interact with each other, how people work: the ownership of work is very important, I really like to think independently and discuss, then have feedback and then take things forward. Judith has always given the freedom to think, that has always come clearly from her and she was never precious about what she had to say. I could always challenge ideas and she was very open about that. I think that's very important for any person to grow, because that opens up your mind.
If you got to be RPS CEO for a day, what's the first thing you would do?
That's a challenging one. I would like to think about ways to engage more young talent in the organisation.
Reflecting on Dhawal’s internship, Judith Cotrell, RPS Group Strategy Director explains “This has been a great experience. Dhawal has added value to the business and brought a different perspective at the same time as broadening his knowledge and experience. I wish him all the best for the future and look forward to continuing to work with Manchester Business School on future internships.”
You can see some of our interview highlights below.
Three words to describe your first impression of RPS
‘Complex’, ‘candid’, [and] ‘cordial’.
Three words to describe your impressions now
‘Cordial’ remains the same. ‘Complex’ has changed to ‘unique’. This firm by its very nature has to be complex, but it gives it a unique taste in the way it offers a diversity of services to our diversity of clientele. And ‘candid’ has changed to ‘pragmatic’: people are actually looking to solve problems rather than overlooking them.
What's it been like working with RPS?
I would say the culture, and work ethics are important. That good work:life balance is very apparent here. I’ve had really good interactions, the culture and the people here are great. It's been an amazing experience. And the very fact that people here are always keen to help others is something which is very important to me.
How’s it been working with Judith (Cottrell, Group Strategy Director) and the Group Leadership Team?
I really liked how people interact with each other, how people work: the ownership of work is very important, I really like to think independently and discuss, then have feedback and then take things forward. Judith has always given the freedom to think, that has always come clearly from her and she was never precious about what she had to say. I could always challenge ideas and she was very open about that. I think that's very important for any person to grow, because that opens up your mind.
If you got to be RPS CEO for a day, what's the first thing you would do?
That's a challenging one. I would like to think about ways to engage more young talent in the organisation.
Reflecting on Dhawal’s internship, Judith Cotrell, RPS Group Strategy Director explains “This has been a great experience. Dhawal has added value to the business and brought a different perspective at the same time as broadening his knowledge and experience. I wish him all the best for the future and look forward to continuing to work with Manchester Business School on future internships.”
No-risk Naylor (2010)
DR. PETE NAYLOR - Oil & gas consultant
DR. PETE NAYLOR - Oil & gas consultant
Dr. Pete Naylor has received the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ (SPE) Regional Service Award for 2010. Speaking on receiving the award, he said “I find the SPE is a great way to meet other colleagues and being on the SPE London Board gives me an opportunity to put something back. It is an honour to receive this award.”
Pete has worked as a consultant to the upstream petroleum industry for over 25 years, and has worked with RPS for the last six years. He is based at Winfrith in Dorset working as a Decision Analyst and recent project work includes development of risk-based engineering models for forecasting hydrocarbon productivity, optimising field development decisions and managing asset integrity challenges.
Not surprisingly, as a discipline very close to his heart, risk management was the subject of Pete’s recent presentation at the SPE Dinner Meeting in Piccadilly this autumn. His presentation ‘How to Quit Gambling: a Structured Approach to Decision Making’ was very well received, despite the flippant title! Pete explains “Many decisions in the petroleum industry involve a complex mix of significant investment, conflicting objectives, multiple stakeholders, risks and uncertainties. Identifying the best way forward is often beyond the intuition and experience of one person and should be assessed using a structured and analytical approach. Anything less would just be plain gambling!”
As well as being Membership Chair of the SPE London Board, Pete is also a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and a Chartered Scientist. He joined UKAEA in 1979, newly graduated from Birmingham University with a Physics degree, where he worked on the safety programme for liquid-cooled nuclear reactors. These studies involved mixing molten uranium dioxide at 3,500°C with water or sodium and then monitoring the ensuing thermal explosion; this was before he became a risk manager. He was able to persuade his employer to continue paying his salary whilst he undertook a PhD in Chemical Engineering at Exeter University in 1982 and for a short time he was the world expert on film boiling destabilisation (possibly because no one else knew (or cared) what it was!).
With a PhD safely tucked under his belt in 1985, Pete moved to the Petroleum Engineering Laboratories at UKAEA which undertook high pressure, high temperature experiments using radioactive liquids to understand the flow of oil, water and gas under realistic reservoir conditions. His work included a series of experiments to study the depressurisation of waterflooded reservoirs that were arguably one of the most realistic coreflood studies ever conducted in the industry. By 1995 he was Department Manager of the Labs responsible for managing the safety, technical, commercial and quality performance of both research and service studies.
After the lab work Pete managed the commercialisation of a patented downhole chemical delivery service, involving the incorporation of oilfield chemicals within ceramic beads used to fracture oil wells. This work involved converting a research idea into an industrial scale product and marketing it to the industry.
Pete has been married to Lin for 30 years and they seem to spend most of their time pouring their resources into their children – having just paid for two university educations (at under- and post-graduate level) and two weddings, they are now investing in a five-year under-graduate course for their youngest: “We just hope he doesn’t get married too soon” Pete jokes. As a warden of his local parish church, he enjoys the challenge of applying his professional experience to the church environment –who ever said science and religion don’t mix?! If any spare time is left, Pete tries to do some windsurfing, surfing, cycling and circuit-training.
And as for risk-taking out of working hours? Best avoided, but… “During a sailing holiday on the Norfolk Broads I was being filmed helming a yacht. I have to admit I was focusing on the camera when I crashed into a marker post in the channel. It was all on camera, and rather embarrassing, but fortunately none of my Decision Risk Management customers appear to have seen it!” Pete confesses.
Pete has worked as a consultant to the upstream petroleum industry for over 25 years, and has worked with RPS for the last six years. He is based at Winfrith in Dorset working as a Decision Analyst and recent project work includes development of risk-based engineering models for forecasting hydrocarbon productivity, optimising field development decisions and managing asset integrity challenges.
Not surprisingly, as a discipline very close to his heart, risk management was the subject of Pete’s recent presentation at the SPE Dinner Meeting in Piccadilly this autumn. His presentation ‘How to Quit Gambling: a Structured Approach to Decision Making’ was very well received, despite the flippant title! Pete explains “Many decisions in the petroleum industry involve a complex mix of significant investment, conflicting objectives, multiple stakeholders, risks and uncertainties. Identifying the best way forward is often beyond the intuition and experience of one person and should be assessed using a structured and analytical approach. Anything less would just be plain gambling!”
As well as being Membership Chair of the SPE London Board, Pete is also a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and a Chartered Scientist. He joined UKAEA in 1979, newly graduated from Birmingham University with a Physics degree, where he worked on the safety programme for liquid-cooled nuclear reactors. These studies involved mixing molten uranium dioxide at 3,500°C with water or sodium and then monitoring the ensuing thermal explosion; this was before he became a risk manager. He was able to persuade his employer to continue paying his salary whilst he undertook a PhD in Chemical Engineering at Exeter University in 1982 and for a short time he was the world expert on film boiling destabilisation (possibly because no one else knew (or cared) what it was!).
With a PhD safely tucked under his belt in 1985, Pete moved to the Petroleum Engineering Laboratories at UKAEA which undertook high pressure, high temperature experiments using radioactive liquids to understand the flow of oil, water and gas under realistic reservoir conditions. His work included a series of experiments to study the depressurisation of waterflooded reservoirs that were arguably one of the most realistic coreflood studies ever conducted in the industry. By 1995 he was Department Manager of the Labs responsible for managing the safety, technical, commercial and quality performance of both research and service studies.
After the lab work Pete managed the commercialisation of a patented downhole chemical delivery service, involving the incorporation of oilfield chemicals within ceramic beads used to fracture oil wells. This work involved converting a research idea into an industrial scale product and marketing it to the industry.
Pete has been married to Lin for 30 years and they seem to spend most of their time pouring their resources into their children – having just paid for two university educations (at under- and post-graduate level) and two weddings, they are now investing in a five-year under-graduate course for their youngest: “We just hope he doesn’t get married too soon” Pete jokes. As a warden of his local parish church, he enjoys the challenge of applying his professional experience to the church environment –who ever said science and religion don’t mix?! If any spare time is left, Pete tries to do some windsurfing, surfing, cycling and circuit-training.
And as for risk-taking out of working hours? Best avoided, but… “During a sailing holiday on the Norfolk Broads I was being filmed helming a yacht. I have to admit I was focusing on the camera when I crashed into a marker post in the channel. It was all on camera, and rather embarrassing, but fortunately none of my Decision Risk Management customers appear to have seen it!” Pete confesses.
Title page image: Pixabay.com/birgl