25th April 2018

YoE: improving lives

This month’s Year of Engineering theme looks at the role engineering plays in improving lives, continuing the UK Government’s initiative to inspire interest in the profession amongst young people.

Engineering has the ability to enhance people’s lives in different ways. Within our business, we are fortunate to help start, support and develop the careers of both aspiring and established engineers, who benefit from working within a rewarding, dynamic field. At the same time, anyone who enjoys the advantages of a well-designed environment has also experienced the positive effects of engineering.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an increasingly significant aspect of the planning and procurement phase. Combined with the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, growing trends in sustainability mean that companies ignoring their responsibility to economic, social and environmental well-being are dulling their competitive edge.

Our very own Ewa summarises her thoughts on designing for sustainability in the healthcare sector:

“Essentially, our job is to deliver improved healthcare facilities for the community, including a better environment to reduce recovery time and make patients as comfortable as possible.

“There’s more focus than there used to be on the whole life cost of a project as opposed to the immediate capital cost. It’s important to look at the longevity of a building, what happens after the build and how it will be maintained. Design needs to take this into account with a long-term vision.

“Flexibility saves money in the long run. In order to meet the changing needs and requirements of modern healthcare facilities, standardisation of design is key. If a room is standardised, it can be used flexibly.”

Highlighting the challenges faced by these kinds of projects, she says: “Definitely balancing clients’ big aspirations with limited budgets. Cost-effectiveness, especially when working with the public sector, is an important consideration. We aim to give the best quality service at a realistic price.

“One solution is prefabricating components off-site. Modular design allows for standardisation and adaptability. Potential design problems and challenges, which can put pressure on a budget, can be mitigated with early engagement of engineers and contractors in the design process.”

Coming back to the Year of Engineering, Ewa offers this advice to young, aspiring engineers: “Engineering is the most rewarding profession. When you see a completed building, especially one with such a vital community role, it gives you a huge sense of pride.”