British Tunnelling Society
The BTS is a dynamic group of tunnelling professionals sharing knowledge within the industry.
Event organised by The British Tunnelling Society Young Members
The British Tunnelling Society - Young Members (BTSYM) invites high school students, leavers and parents to attend an information night about careers in tunnelling and UK infrastructure. The aim of this talk is to introduce options for vocational and academic routes of entry into the industry as well as possible career paths. We’re pleased to host speakers from relevant training and university organisations as well as a variety of recent graduates to talk about their experiences of tunnelling so far, with topics including:
Please refer to the biographies for further information on the presenters.
The event is free to attend in person or online through Zoom.
The BTS is a dynamic group of tunnelling professionals sharing knowledge within the industry.
Qualitrain
development director
Mike Perkins is an apprenticeship professional with over 15 years experience in the education industry. Mike has worked with Tunnel Skills and J3M Construction Training on three cohorts of tunnelling operatives over the last three years supporting 40 apprentices on major HS2 contracts at Chilterns, Bromford and Long Itchington Wood.
Warwick University
associate professor
Cate Anthony is an associate professor and an apprenticeship tutor at the University of Warwick. She has worked on the delivery of the Degree Apprenticeship (level 6) in Civil Engineering since 2021.
Prior to that Cate had an exciting career within the tunnelling industry working on award winning projects for both consulting and contracting engineering firms, including Bank station capacity upgrade, Tottenham Court Road station upgrade, Bond Street station upgrade, and HS2 contracts S1 and S2 tunnelling and S3 at Euston station.
She has an MSc in tunnelling and underground space from the University of Warwick and is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Costain
civil engineering apprentice
Leena Begum started her career as an apprentice working towards an L3 BTEC in civil engineering. Following this, she started a degree apprenticeship with Costain and is currently working on the tunnels at HS2 Old Oak Common, alongside studying at Kingston University for a degree in civil engineering.
BAM Nuttall
apprentice site engineer
Annie May started her Degree Apprenticeship with Bam Nuttall in 2021 after finishing her A-Levels. She has been working at the Silvertown Tunnel project along with studying at Leeds College of Building for a degree in civil engineering. Her portion of the talk will focus on her site experience and some top tips.
London Bridge Associates
scl engineer
Dominic De Silva started his Degree Apprenticeship with London Bridge Associates (a tunnelling specialist consulting business) in November 2021.
Since beginning his apprenticeship, he has worked on multiple commissions alongside studying at the University of Warwick for a degree in civil and infrastructure engineering.
His portion of the talk will focus on opportunities that he has been given during his apprenticeship, challenges that he’s faced balancing work and studies, and highlights of his apprenticeship to date.
BEDI Consulting Ltd
senior engineer
Thomas Macgowan is the chair of the British Tunnelling Society Young Members. He is responsible for organising professional development activities for under 35s and encouraging engagement of young people with the tunnelling industry. He works as Chartered Civil Engineer and is completing a masters degree while gaining experience as a designer consulting principally on tunnelling projects.