The Engineers Collective

Sizewell C consents manager Stephen Mannings and head of regional affairs Tom McGarry talked to NCE former features editor Nadine Buddoo and current features editor Sotiris Kanaris about EDF Energy’s efforts to alleviate concerns about the project's environmental impact.

Like Sizewell B, the proposed nuclear power station Sizewell C will be located within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For the construction of the new power station, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) land will also be needed. For these reasons, local communities and environmental groups have raised concerns over the environmental impact of the project.

During the podcast discussion, Stephen and Tom run through several measures devised to minimise the construction phase’s environmental impact. They also talk about the proposed plant design changes aiming to preserve a specific area of habitat and lower disturbance to wildlife.

EDF Energy has also invested in creating new habitat, the Aldhurst Farm, which Stephen explains in more detail on the podcast.

The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.

The role of forms on contract have played over the last 30 years in moving the construction sector from an adversarial one to a collaborative one is explored in the latest episode.

New Engineering Contracts (NEC) Users’ Group Chair John Welch, who is also currently deputy director for construction at Crown Commercial Service, and Andrew McNaughton who has recently joined Aczel as infrastructure lead join NCE editor Claire Smith and features editor Nadine Buddoo to talk about the impact NEC has had on the industry.

John and Andrew discuss the drivers for the NEC contracts to be used on smaller projects now, as well as major schemes, and look at why the system is gaining ground internationally too. Both guests point to NEC’s basis as a simple form of contract that uses plain English as the main reason for widening adoption. They also discuss how evolution of the contracts has set out the principles for collaboration but say that it is really up to the project partners to foster those principles and put them into action.

Before the interview, Claire chats with NCE’s head of content and engagement Rob Horgan and reporter Catherine Kennedy about what is likely to come out the Spending Review last today (27 October) and what the industry hopes will come out of COP26 in Glasgow. The news team also talk about the stories that have caught the interest of readers in the last month from National Highways’ historic rail bridge infilling to the fifth anniversary of construction work starting at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.

With COP26 just weeks away, the need to design in sustainability and climate resilience into every element of the built environment has never been more in the spotlight and is the focus of the latest episode.

NCE editor Claire Smith and reporter Catherine Kennedy are joined by Rodrigo Fernandes who is director of empowering sustainable development goals with Bentley Systems to talk about the role of engineers – and the tools available to them – to drive change through design.

Before talking about the solutions and option available, Rodrigo talks to Claire and Catherine about progress on sustainability in the last decade and the scale of the challenge facing the engineering profession as it looks to increase the pace of change.

Rodrigo discusses the need to have collaboration at ecosystem level to deliver real benefits for the environment and the need for engineers to prioritise nature-based solutions over “grey” [concrete] alternatives. He also calls on engineers to advocate for resiliency early in the lifecycle of a project and for the industry to make better use of lifecycle tools to facilitate more environmentally conscious decision making.

The trio explore projects that are already doing good work in terms of improved sustainability with Rodrigo highlighting construction of High Speed 2 rail line as taking an innovative approach to design and delivery for sustainability. Nonetheless, he suggests that the construction industry needs to consider moving more to retrofitting and refurbishment over new build in the future to deliver on environmental promises.

The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.

Find out more at www.bentley.com

Transport for London (TfL) Crossrail 2 managing director Michèle Dix joins NCE editor Claire Smith and head of content and engagement Rob Horgan on the latest episode of The Engineers Collective to talk about her 21 year career with the organisation as she prepares for retirement.

Michèle talks about her work on London’s congestion charging scheme, which first took her to TfL in 2000 and how she was an early pioneer of job sharing when she jointly delivered the role of director for the project with Malcolm Murray-Clark. She continued to work with Malcolm as the scheme was extended westwards and they evolved the role to deliver London’s Low Emission Zone too.

Michèle also discusses some of her favourite projects, including delivery of London’s cable car, before exploring the challenges faced by her last project – Crossrail 2 – which has now been mothballed as a result of TfL’s pandemic funding issues.

In reflecting back on her career, Michèle also puts forward advice for young engineers hoping to emulate her success and considers what advice she’d give her younger self too.

Ahead of the interview with Michèle, Claire, Rob and reporter Catherine Kennedy explore some of the latest news stories including some intriguing innovations such as the role of fungi in preventing landslides, tunnel boring machines that can 3D print tunnel linings or bore square section tunnels through rock and how graphene might change construction materials.

In this episode Transport for the North’s new chief executive Martin Tugwell joins NCE editor Claire Smith and features editor Nadine Buddoo to discuss the decarbonisation of regional transport networks. Tune in to find out how sustainable growth can be tackled by finding the economic benefits, utilising current budgets and thinking systematically to create a long-term strategy.

While the discussion is focused on the recently completed consultation for Transport for the North’s decarbonisation strategy, challenges faced in other regions of the UK also come under the spotlight. Martin, Claire and Nadine explore the potential solutions including the use of hydrogen in transport. Martin also considers how the challenges can be overcome through innovation, flexibility and long-term mindsets, which are considered key to moving forward towards becoming carbon net zero  transport industry.

In this episode Amanda Fisher, chief executive of Amey, and Mandy Willis, Mace group board director of corporate strategy, join NCE editor Claire Smith and Nadine Buddoo to discuss a new initiative they've launched to support staff through menopause in the workplace.

The group discuss how menopause is the skills issue that is rarely spoken about in the construction sector and how an online platform like Peppy allows staff to gain the support they need.

Peppy were unable to join the interview on the podcast, but co-founder Max Landry commended Amey and Mace for taking the lead on the matter. “Mace and Amey are leading the way for the construction industry by normalising the menopause and offering personalised support to their people,” he said.

“We have already hit our expected usage numbers for the companies which highlights the demand for support. Setting up this kind of support is quick, easy and cost efficient, with Mace and Amey going from initial discussions to launch in less than six weeks – testament to the commitment to change made by the leaders there."

Before the interview with Amanda and Mandy, Claire speaks to NCE’s head of content and engagement Rob Horgan and reporter Catherine Kennedy about the main news stories over the last month.

The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.

Find out more at www.bentley.com

Creation of 3D models of different phases of construction is allowing civil engineers to move into the world of 4D and digitally rehearse the work before ever setting foot on site.

The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.

Find out more at www.bentley.com

This month's episode features a chat with founding director of Knight Architects, Martin Knight, and BDP principal and civil and structural engineering group leader Michelle McDowell.

The two join our editorial panel to talk about the need for engineers and architects to work together more collaboratively in the future. With the two disciplines working closer together than they used to, we ask about the biggest misconceptions they have about each other, and what benefits could arise from a better understanding on both sides. We talk about how delivery with consideration from all corners can improve the experience for the end user, and what barriers currently exist which prevent closer collaboration. 

We often talk about the need for early engagement at all levels in the supply chain, but do we procure projects in the right way to create the opportunity for improved design and multidisciplinary collaboration?

All of this and more is on the table in July's episode of The Engineers Collective.

The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.

Find out more at www.bentley.com

In this month’s news special, Claire Smith (editor), Catherine Kennedy (reporter) and Rob Horgan (news editor) discuss the recent tragic events in Miami, with the collapse in June of the Champlain Towers South building.

Then, Claire is joined by former New Civil Engineer editor Ty Byrd, who joined what is now NCE’s sister title, Construction News in the wake the collapse of the Ronan Point tower block in East London. Ty tells us about the changes in the construction industry which came about as a result of the collapse.

In this month’s episode of The Engineers Collective, news editor Rob Horgan and reporter Catherine Kennedy discuss the top news stories of the month, and Catherine tells us a bit about her most recent site visit in Belfast.

Later, Nadine Buddoo (features editor at NCE) is joined by Zane Ulhaq, associate director for Atkins, and Helen Balmforth, the head of data analytics at the Health and Safety Executive.

Zane is a leader for change in the construction and healthcare sectors. He has digitally transformed a business unit of over 3,000 staff and is a key leader of Atkins’ global digital programme. Helen provides data analytical expertise across HSE, the wider UK government and the private sector. She has over 18 years’ experience of developing and delivering analytical solutions for a range of health and safety issues. Helen has led the development of the Regulatory Intelligence programme of work at HSE and sits on the cross government Data Leaders Network.

Together they discuss health, safety and wellbeing issues affecting the industry, and help us understand how data science and tools can be applied to make improvements and innovations.