Name: Alan Green
Company: BDP
Years of experience: 17
Specialism: Structural refurbishments
Membership grade attained: CEng MICE
Professional Review route: Technical Report Route
Background: I have worked at a number of Structural Engineering Consultancies in and around London, on projects large and small. Much of my time has been spent on refurbishment projects, varying from an 18th century stable block to a 1970s concrete frame office building, and most things in between.
What did passing your review mean to you?: It was the reward for a fair amount of hard work. Writing my technical report made me realise just how varied and challenging our working lives are, and for the ICE to deem me worthy of Chartership was a huge boost. I progressed through the 'Experience Route', which was perfect for my circumstances as it gave recognition and credit for the knowledge I've gained throughout my career. The ICE support team were instrumental in helping me first find and then progress along this path.
Support received from Delegates Engineer (DE)/ Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE)/ ICE: I received support and encouragement from my sponsors, all of whom I have worked with directly during my time at BDP. Knowing they were all prepared to go on the record in support of me gave me confidence that the technical report route was the right path for me, and that I would be able to progress through it.
Why civil engineering?: No two projects are ever the same, and therefore no two days in the office are either. There is a real sense of achievement in seeing something grow from a rough sketch on a page to an actual building that you walk past in the street, and knowing that you have played your part in making it happen. There are few jobs that leave such a tangible legacy.
Career highlight: This was probably the afternoon I arrived at a technical start up meeting for a restaurant refurbishment project in Central London - unaware until I walked in that the restaurant in question was that of a TV celebrity chef, and that the meeting was being filmed for a channel 4 documentary! Disappointingly, the editors decided our discussions about beams and columns unworthy of the final cut.


Name: Andrew Pickering
Company: London Underground
Years of experience: 7 years
Specialism: Bridges and Structures Inspections
Membership grade attained: EngTech TMICE
Professional Review route: Educational Route
Background: I joined London Underground in July 2005, working as Track & Civil Apprentice up until 2009 where I attained my safety critical licence and bridges and structures competency to become a fully qualified Bridges & Structures Inspector. I am currently undertaking my BSC Civil Engineering which is sponsored by London Underground and I’ve already attained a ONC Civil Engineering & HNC Railway Engineering.
What did passing your review mean to you?: After passing my review I felt extremely proud of myself - all the hard work I have put into my career has paid off. I also feel that I have been accepted into a prestigious group of engineers and now my signature has added value.
Support received from Delegates Engineer (DE)/ Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE)/ ICE: I was offered a lot support from my mentors who are both CEng. They both advised how to present my knowledge in a clear and coherent manner and helped me to choose the best route to take. In addition to this an ICE representative made several visits to my office and explained exactly what I needed to do and the deadlines so that all the requirements were made clear.
Why civil engineering?: Civil engineering for me is not just a job. Working within London Underground I find the intricate mix of Victorian and modern day constructions historically fascinating. So much can be learnt from the structural behaviour of civil assets which have been designed and maintained in various ways. This knowledge can then be used to further develop civil constructions. This for me, gives my job a sense of meaning  and makes me feel I am contributing to the world of civil engineering. 
Career highlight: After four years of intensive training, studying and hands-on experience via my apprenticeship, becoming a Bridges and Structures Inspector has been the highlight of my career.  I have taken on more responsibility and directly contribute to the safe running of London Underground.


Name: Tilahun Tezera
Company: London Underground
Years of experience: 9 years
Specialism: London Underground – Bridge and Structure Inspection
Membership grade attained: EngTech TMICE
Professional Review route: Technical Standard Route
Background: Civil engineering, rail, checking that structures are fit for purpose.
What did passing your review mean to you?: It has revived my enthusiasm for  IEng and CEng review. Having doing the job for a while it is good to now be recognised by a body like the ICE.  
Support received from Delegates Engineer (DE)/ Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE)/ ICE: I was able to attend lectures at One Great George Street which were very helpful, and my DE came to my workplace to give highly tailored lectures.  I also received valuable support from my SCE.
Why civil engineering?: I have always been interested by bridges and in how infrastructure supports and transforms the environment.
Career highlight: Attending a bridge fault incident and correctly advising not to stop the train running as the problem was a minor one with minimal risk.

September 2012



 

• Name: Colin James Dent
• Company: Vinci Construction UK
• Years of experience: 22
• Specialism: Railway civil engineering – London Underground
• Membership grade attained: CEng MICE
• Professional Review Route: Technical Report Route
• Background: I have worked on many projects and tenders, much of which has been railway, but also temporary works, drainage, pavement/road design, etc. Most of my work has been in the London area. I started as a student civil engineering technician after leaving technical college with a National Diploma in Building Studies, and have progressed from there.
• What did passing the review mean to you?: It meant a tremendous amount to me. I worked and studied hard for 20 years to improve myself, and then when I felt I was at the point in my career where I wanted to move from IEng to CEng, I got stuck into the challenge. My father is a retired chartered electrical engineer, and he was very proud that I passed the review and become chartered.
• Support received from Delegated Engineer (DE)/Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE)/ICE: My project director is an SCE, and he mentored me towards chartership, however I was the first one he helped through the Technical Report Route, so we were both on a voyage of discovery.
• Why civil engineering?: I love a challenge, solving problems, and big infrastructure projects. All of the great heroes of the 18th and 19th Centuries were civil engineers, working on railways, bridges, canals, roads, harbours etc, and I wanted to work on projects like that. I have been fortunate to work on a few large projects, and hope that there is a renaissance in infrastructure renewal and creation.
• Would you encourage students to consider an engineering career –why?: Yes, absolutely - when you can stand beside something you have contributed to, or travel on it, or see the benefits it gives millions of other people, there is no better feeling. How many people can say with pride that they were part of something that is tangible and benefits the rest of humanity?
• Career highlight: Explaining to friends that there is an Underground sidings under the Westfield shopping centre, and them not believing me. I spent a lot of time and effort ensuring that there would be no sound or vibration from the trains, thereby creating a facility that very few people know about or will ever see, and yet the improvement to the Central Line is tremendous. Sometimes we can build infrastructure that improves lives without them knowing or appreciating it, as in this case. 

Autumn Professional Review 2010
 

• Name: John Michael Banks
• Company: Flint & Neill Limited
• Years of experience: 6
• Specialism: Bridge Engineer
• Membership grade attained: CEng MICE
• Professional Review Route:
• Stage 1 - ICE Approved Training Scheme/Initial Professional Development
• Chartered Professional Review (CPR)
• Background: MEng Degree in Aeronautical Engineering. University of Glasgow (1999 - 2004)
• What did passing the review mean to you?: A huge amount. It is the culmination of years of effort, and a certain degree of sacrifice, to reach this level. It now gives me an enormous amount of pride when I can say that I am a chartered civil engineer.
• Support received from Delegated Engineer (DE)/Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE)/ICE: My SCE, Paul Sanders, was instrumental in my success achieved at the CPR. His continual support and expert guidance throughout my training period helped me hugely in preparing to the fullest possible extent for the CPR. I also gained considerable assistance from a number of colleagues at the firm who had only in the last few years become members of the ICE and were therefore in a unique position to provide valuable insight in terms of what to expect at the review.
• Why civil engineering?: Having come from an aerospace background, I soon came to realise that I would like to embark on a career which would provide me with the opportunities to make a tangible contribution to society. That career was civil engineering, and I could utilise some of the knowledge that I had gained while studying. Opportunities for working abroad were also a draw and I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity of working on some of the most fantastic structures in the world. This has included the experience of a year spent working in Istanbul on the two Bosphorus crossings, which are the only two structures linking two different continents and can safely be classed as life-line structures. 
• Would you encourage students to consider an engineering career – why?: Without doubt yes! I am continually challenged and I have enjoyed my six years as an engineer enormously and have the added benefit of being able to say that I enjoy coming to work every day.
• Career highlight: Working with some of the best engineers in the business…and getting chartered!

• Name: Nicholas Henry
• Company: Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Limited
• Years of experience: 2 (since graduating) 3 (total)
• Specialism: RC Structures
• Membership grade attained: TMICE
• Professional review route: Technical Report Route
• Background: Civil engineering; site based at the King’s Cross Northern Ticket Hall and Blackfriars Station Redevelopment Projects.
• What did passing the review mean to you?: It has revived my enthusiasm for the IEng and CEng reviews. After spending two years writing reports and signing off DOs, its feels good to have something to show for all that effort. I was sceptical of the TMICE review originally, but I can now see the benefits of breaking the process down into smaller, more manageable steps.
• Support received from Delegated Engineer (DE)/Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE)/ICE: All have assisted me immensely in guiding my experiences and identifying areas where my knowledge was deficient.
• Why civil engineering?: I wanted to be involved in something that would be bigger than I could ever be by myself. A future of building bridges, stations and towering structures gives me that.
• Would you encourage students to consider an engineering career – why?: Definitely. I have plenty of friends who go to work, sit at their desk, do the same thing all day, everyday and hate it. I’m not saying I don’t have to spend some time at a desk too, but generally I am outside solving problems and when I go home I have the satisfaction of knowing that whatever we built that day, it will probably still be there after I’ve gone.
• Career highlight: After seeing the project go from a muddy field in 2006 to the gleaming station it is today, I would have to say walking through King’s Cross Northern Ticket Hall as a paying customer is my highlight so far. Hopefully, I will soon be able to say the same about Blackfriars.

• Name: Jonathan Lock
• Company: Arup
• Years of experience: 22
• Specialism:Structures – CAD Manager
• Membership Grade attained: IEng MICE
• Professional Review Route: Self Manage, career Appraisal & Professional Review.
• Background: After leaving school in 1989 at the age of 16, I joined an architectural practice, as a trainee architectural technician. I worked there for two years. I then joined Knight Morrish and Partners Consulting Engineers in 1991 as a trainee structural technician. Over the next fourteen years I followed a well-structured internal training programme where I progressed to the position of senior structural technician. The projects I worked on varied considerably; predominantly involving structural steelwork and reinforced concrete on both refurbishments and new building structure projects.  In March 2003 I joined Arup as a lead technician on the facade support structure team for the new Terminal 5 project at Heathrow airport. This led onto 3.5 years working as a lead technician on a variety of contracts on T5, including the main superstructure, rail station interchange and T5C satellite building. Mid way through 2006 I joined the Pinnacle Tower team as lead structural technician. In July 2008 I accepted my current position as structural CAD manager for one of the Arup Building Engineering groups in London consisting of 10 technicians. One of my responsibilities is to help mentor two technicians within my buildings group. This includes all aspects of their training as structural technicians. This work has been recognised by Arup outside my group and a new Practise has been created, known as the “Learning Practice”. I am the UK-MEA Region Leader for this new practice with the responsibility for all technician training, career development and professional recognition within the UK, Middle East and Africa. I will represent the region on the CADSkills Network Executive Board as well as manage all activities, practise and learning streams and funding. The new learning stream is represented across the region by technicians at all levels working towards Institution membership and career development.I am now a CadSkills Network UK-MEA Executive Member, UK-MEA Region Building Information Modelling Taskforce Member and the Arup Global Account Manager for Tekla.
• What did passing the review mean to you?: It felt really good and I was very proud to be recognised as an engineer and a member of the Institution.
• Support received from Delegated Engineer (DE)/Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE)/ICE: The support I received from my DE and SCE was excellent, as was the support from my sponsors and the Arup group leadership.  I found the process of achieving my IENG was extensive and certainly not straight forward. It was difficult to demonstrate to the ICE that someone from a technician’s background has an understanding of engineering principles despite not having carried out design calculations on a day to day basis. There was certainly a learning curve for everyone involved including the ICE.
• Why civil engineering?: I always wanted to work in the construction industry, but I suppose in particular it’s the opportunity to work on such a variety of projects. Arup has been a great place to find such opportunities. I have been involved on some incredible building projects from all over the world.
• Would you encourage students to consider an engineering career – why?: Definitely, there are not many careers that can beat engineering in my opinion. As with all jobs there are highs and lows but overall it’s a great industry to work in and has given me a lot of satisfaction. You never stop learning throughout your time at work; each day can be different and offer a new experience. As the construction industry develops with the improvements in engineering and software, the boundaries are continually pushed forward, and the projects are increasingly challenging.
• Career highlight: I’m not sure I have one career highlight. I suppose the very first project I was fully responsible for when I was in my early 20’s stands out, as does working on major projects such as Terminal 5 and The Pinnacle Tower in central London. Also, becoming IENG MICE is a major achievement for me.

• Name: Alejandro Sacoto
• Company: Skanska Civil Engineering
• Years of experience: 5
• Specialism: Contractor
• Membership grade attained: Chartered
• Professional Review Route: Training Agreement
• Background: I started my civil engineering career in Ecuador, but a desire to work on large-scale projects motivated me to move to the United Kingdom where I obtained a MSc in Structural Engineering. My experience spans the rail, tunnelling and water sectors working for a major contractor and a design consultancy. I have gained site management experience delivering the construction of a DLR station in East London, and developed a strong technical background delivering temporary works designs for rail and tunnel projects.I am currently working as a temporary works design engineer for the joint venture formed by Costain-Skanska for various Crossrail projects.
• What did passing the review mean to you?: It meant the culmination of my training period as a professional engineer, something that I committed to five years ago. It has also increased my confidence in taking greater challenges and my sense of responsibility to the profession.
• Support received from Delegated Engineer (DE)/Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE)/ICE: Skanska’s DE and SCE and my regional MDO supported me during my training agreement. They were always available when I needed advice.
• Why civil engineering?: Frankly, because I think that building structures it is the most fun job ever. Of course, being a professional football player would be exiting as well, but I’m not good at football..
• Would you encourage students to consider an engineering career – why?: Yes, I think that civil engineering it is the profession that shapes society. You can design and build your own house, or if you’re lucky, an iconic structure like the Eiffel Tower.
• Career highlight: Delivering the construction of a new DLR station in East London. It is great to know that the structure I built will benefit millions of people for many years to come.

• Name: Elizabeth Wilson
• Company: The Nichols Group
• Years of Experience: 7
• Specialism: Project Management (Rail)
• Membership grade attained: IEng MICE
• Professional Review Route: Member Professional Review
• Background: Rail, highways and drainage
• What did passing the review mean to you?: It was a way of capturing and appreciating everything I have learned since graduating.  I am proud that I have continued to learn and develop continually since leaving Uni and wanted to have formal recognition of that.
• Support received from Delegated Engineer (DE)/Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE)/ICE: I had numerous visits and discussions with people at the ICE.  I also received support and guidance from my DE and SCE, although it took me a while to find the right people to do this important job!
• Why civil engineering?: I have always been fascinated by infrastructure and how it shapes our lives – everything from health to the economy to our society.
• Would you encourage students to consider an engineering career – why?: Absolutely.  It is such a broad career choice and I think there is space for many different types of talented individual to find their niche, and shine. 
• Career highlight: Project managing a critical railway possession on Blackfriars Railway Bridge last August – and finishing on time!