I have always been interested in Civil Engineering and in particular bridges. I found out about Dorset Highways when I was looking for a summer job following my 2nd year at the University of Exeter. I was fortunate enough to be offered work during the summer holiday and again at Christmas and Easter. I was then offered the opportunity to work through my next summer holiday and be sponsored to stay on for a fourth year at university to gain my Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering.
Once I had completed my degree in 2004, I went to work in the Weymouth Relief Road design team. Here I concentrated on the hydrological aspects of the design, but managed to gain a good idea of the processes involved in designing and securing permission for a major highways scheme. I then continued on Dorset Highway’s graduate training scheme working within different areas of Dorset Highways including Bridge Design, Highways Asset Management (roads and bridges), Structural Maintenance, Contract Management and working as a Contractor. The experience gained in each of these areas enabled me to become a Chartered Civil Engineer within five years.
I have worked as a Site Agent primarily delivering capital and routine bridge works for Dorset Highways. In this role I helped take a bridge design from an Engineer and deliver it with my team of operatives. Overall I was responsible for constructing in the region of £2 million pounds worth of bridge works annually.
My current role as Works Delivery Manager in Dorset Highways, means I am responsible for 9 Agents and 100 operatives constructing in excess of £17 million pounds worth of works annually. I also can easily find myself carrying out other activities such as organising out of hours responses to highways emergencies and winter maintenance activities, or (as a one off) coordinating visitor access to Weymouth during the Olympic Games.
I am also acting as an ICE Delegated Engineer helping people within the organisation progress with their aspiration of becoming an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer.
I particularly enjoy my current job as I have the opportunity to work with a cross section of the people within Dorset Highways and I enjoy the diversity of projects that exist within Dorset Highways.