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Jenny Baldwin

Jenny Baldwin

Senior structural engineer, Buro Happold

Expertise

Design, Structural

Location

United Kingdom
My highlights

Passing the ICE Chartered Professional Review after four years of hard work

Working on a wide range of projects, big and small

Being based on a construction site for four months, seeing my design work put into practice

A day in my life

I like to be in the office every day and so start with a quick cycle to work in the mornings.

My days typically start with emails, updating to do lists, and reviewing any meetings for the day.

Depending on my projects and what stage they’re at I’ll be:

  • Writing/reviewing reports
  • Designing buildings’ structures with calculations, design software, or paper sketches
  • Co-ordinating building design with architects, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) engineers, and infrastructure engineers
  • Travelling to site visits or meetings and workshops

I also was seconded to site for four months where I carried out works inspections and explained my designs to those actually building my work.

Being chartered with the ICE demonstrates that I'm a safe pair of hands.

Which individual project or person inspired you to become a civil engineer?

My dad is a Chartered Engineer with the ICE, and my granddad was a civil engineer.

Although I didn’t consider engineering initially, it meant that when I was looking for a different direction, I knew a bit about what the job would entail.

We asked Jenny…

I would recommend a career in civil engineering because…

It offers the opportunity to shape the world around us, and to have a positive impact on communities and the environment.

It’s a combination of creativity and technical skills and offers huge variety.

What about being a civil engineer gets you out of bed each morning?

I enjoy the variety of work.

One day I can be designing an office block in Bristol, the next writing a report verifying the capacity of a stadium roof that P!nk swings from during a performance.

I can also be onsite or in an office, and I enjoy the problem solving that goes with all of these different aspects!

I’m also motivated by the fact that I can see the results of my work, and how it directly impacts people’s lives in a positive way, for their wellbeing, health, and safety.

What’s one great thing that you love about civil engineering that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?

I didn’t know about how collaborative being a structural engineer is, working closely with architects and other engineering professionals.

Good collaboration leads to innovative solutions. I’ve got a much deeper understanding of how different disciplines come together to create functional and aesthetic structures.

What’s the biggest/most complex thing you’ve made out of Lego? How long did it take you?

I was never a big Lego fan. However I did once build a 1m high, 2.4m long rollercoaster out of 2400 pieces of K’nex!

Name one civil engineering myth you’d like to bust.

That engineering is solo work. It’s actually super collaborative and creative.

What motivated you to become professionally qualified? 

I was always keen to obtain my chartership with the ICE. I began my training agreement with Buro Happold as soon as I could, and I wanted to get my chartership under my belt, as it opens doors.

What does being professionally qualified with the ICE mean for your career?  

It unlocks door for promotion and further professional development.

Being chartered with the ICE demonstrates that I'm a safe pair of hands, that I have technical skill, and that I prioritise health, safety, the environment, and end users.

What’s the best thing about being professionally qualified with the ICE? 

Being able to pass on my knowledge and experience of the chartership process, assisting new engineers as a chartered delegate engineer.

How did the ICE and your employer support you to become professionally qualified? 

I was on an accredited training scheme with Buro Happold when I joined as a graduate.

I had a delegated engineer and a supervising civil engineer to support me.

I also checked in with my local membership development officer yearly and for my final initial professional development sign off.

What do you value most about being an ICE member? 

I value the network of people it connects me to, across professions and the world.

Anything else? i.e. personal causes, hobbies

I volunteer as a community governor for a local STEM Studio school. I lead a working group for student recruitment that aims to see a more diverse group of students attending the school.

Jenny's career path

I did my A-levels and then I went to study medicine at the University of Sheffield.

I got two years in and decided it wasn’t me, switching to civil engineering instead.

As part of my new degree, I then did a study abroad year at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

I completed a summer placement at Buro Happold Leeds between my third and fourth year and then started in the Bath office in September 2019.