Curtins

The difference a day of volunteering can make At Curtins, our paid volunteering days give colleagues the opportunity to support causes that matter to them and make a meaningful impact in their local communities. Recently, Grazia Labarile and Mfonido Emah from our Cambridge office spent their volunteering day supporting the Cambridge Sustainable Food Holiday Lunch Programme at Brown's Field Community Centre. They helped prepare, serve and clean up a nutritious vegetarian lunch, providing support to local families during the school holidays. Reflecting on the experience, they said: "It was rewarding to play a part in creating a warm and welcoming environment where families could enjoy a healthy meal together and connect with others in the local community." We're proud to support our people in giving their time to such worthwhile initiatives and helping make a difference in local communities. Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC

Week 4 of the Curtins Civils Summer Programme focused on sustainability, climate resilience and the role that civil engineers play in creating a net-zero future. The session began with Johanna Jarvinen, Senior Sustainability Business Development Consultant at Symetri Europe, who introduced Net Zero Carbon, climate resilience and the impact of the construction industry on climate change, highlighting the important role engineers play in creating a more sustainable future. We then heard from Niamh McCloskey, Associate (Sustainability) at Curtins, who delivered a passionate and thought-provoking session on embodied carbon, demonstrating how innovative design, material choices and data-driven decision-making can help reduce emissions across projects. The week concluded with Alice Fearn and Yazdi Batki, both Principal Engineers within Curtins' Civil Engineering teams, who introduced Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), showcasing how nature-based solutions can reduce flood risk, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity and create healthier communities. Through a range of real-world case studies and project examples, they brought these principles to life and demonstrated how SuDS are being successfully integrated into modern developments. A fantastic week of innovation, sustainability and practical learning, demonstrating how engineers can help shape a more sustainable and resilient future. Bente Regina van West, Ammar Zayni, Ashray Modi, Bobby Patient, Boryana Atanasova, Callum Basra, Charlie Madert, Czar Collins, Deema Alsaeary, Destiny Anabaraonye, Dihan Akter, Ellen Barker, Hamdan Khan, Josh Darvell, Kwasi Antwi Amuzu-Opoku, Laeticia Ssenabulya, Lojain Hassan, Lorna Dolan Greene, Mark Reid, Maryam Begum, Maurice-Ransel Gallardo, Mohammad Khan, Mohammad Zeid Badulla, Muhanad Abdelfadil, Nana Yaa Copra, Rebar Abubakr, Saffia Ahmed, Sanad Bensuliman, William Hill, Yassir EL HALALI, George Serwanga

Innovation has always been part of engineering. What's changed? In his latest blog, our Innovation Coordinator, Marc Barlow, explores how engineering innovation has evolved from solving immediate challenges to anticipating future ones. From the lessons of Liverpool's Albert Dock to navigating today's Information Era, Marc reflects on why collaboration, curiosity and continuous learning are more important than ever. As the pace of change accelerates, how can we move from reacting to challenges to staying ahead of them? Find the link to the full blog in our comments.

Marking the halfway point of the Civils Summer Programme, Week 3 focused on how major developments evolve from concept to completion, showcasing the key role civil engineers play at every stage of the project lifecycle. The session began with Dan Evans, Board Director at Curtins, who introduced the RIBA Plan of Work and guided students through a group activity exploring the key stages, tasks and processes involved in delivering a project. We were pleased to be joined by Emma Huxtable, Architect at Hawkins\Brown, who shared an architect's perspective on masterplanning and demonstrated how collaboration between disciplines helps shape sustainable, people-focused developments. The week concluded with Tom Leake, Director at Curtins, who presented the White City Living development in London. Students then worked in teams to identify site constraints and develop an initial drainage strategy, applying real-world engineering thinking to a complex urban project. A fantastic week of collaboration, problem-solving and practical learning.

Are you looking to reuse an existing building? Last March, we launched our bespoke Insite service, formalising an approach that has been developed and refined over decades. The service helps clients understand, maintain and maximise the structural integrity of their built assets, enabling them to make informed decisions and confidently plan for their future use. Windmill Green, pictured below, is a great example of this approach in action. Originally constructed in 1973, this BREEAM Outstanding office redevelopment involved retaining and repurposing the existing concrete frame, alongside a two-storey vertical extension and horizontal expansion, significantly increasing the building's overall floor area while extending the life of the asset.

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Week 2 of our Civils Summer Programme gave students an exciting insight into how digital technology is transforming the future of infrastructure and engineering. The session opened with Andy Macfarlane, Board Director at Curtins, who shared his career journey and explored how digital delivery has evolved throughout the industry, from traditional drawing boards to BIM, digital twins and collaborative data environments. We were also delighted to be joined by Daniel Giddins from Symetri Europe, who discussed why infrastructure is so important and the growing role of digital engineering. Students were introduced to some of the software used by engineers today and gained an understanding of the incredible level of detail, data and analysis these tools can produce to support better project outcomes. The session also took a fascinating look at the Liverpool Waters regeneration project, showcasing how digital technologies are helping shape one of the UK's most ambitious waterfront developments. Reflecting on the session, student Charlie said: "I really enjoyed learning about Liverpool Waters and the digital technologies being used across the industry. The session gave me a much better understanding of how major engineering projects are designed, planned and delivered." A fantastic week of learning, innovation and discovery for our future engineers: Bente Regina van West, Ammar Zayni, Ashray Modi, Bobby Patient, Boryana Atanasova, Callum Basra, Charlie Madert, Czar Collins, Deema Alsaeary, Destiny Anabaraonye, Dihan Akter, Ellen Barker, Hamdan Khan, Josh Darvell, Kwasi Antwi Amuzu-Opoku, Laeticia Ssenabulya, Lojain Hassan, Lorna Dolan Greene, Mark Reid, Maryam Begum, Maurice-Ransel Gallardo, Mohammad Khan, Mohammad Zeid Badulla, Nana Yaa Copra, Priyam Kapri, Rebar Abubakr, Saffia Ahmed, Sanad Bensuliman, William Hill, Yassir EL HALALI, George Serwanga

Why have we published our carbon data? At Curtins, we believe transparency drives progress. By publishing our carbon data and sharing the news of our 11% reduction since 2022, we're showing our commitment to accountability and continuous improvement. We want our clients, peers and partners to see not only the progress we've made, but also the responsibility we take in measuring, reporting and reducing our environmental impact. This milestone is just one step in our journey towards a more sustainable future, and we remain committed to helping drive positive change through the work we do and the partnerships we build. Niamh McCloskey, Place North West

What can industry, education and policymakers do to create lasting change? Rebecca King FCIPD MBA and Kate Clegg recently joined a The Purpose Coalition skills and education policy roundtable in Westminster with Sureena Brackenridge MP. “If you looked into my very core, you’d see education,” said Sureena, a former deputy head and now a member of the House of Commons Education Committee, setting the tone for a powerful discussion on the role education and skills play in driving opportunity and social mobility. The conversation explored how the education and skills system can better connect people to career progression, quality employment and local economic growth. At Curtins, these issues resonate strongly with us - not only through the education projects we help deliver, but also through our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for people at every stage of their careers. Read Rebecca and Kate’s reflections on the discussion, the challenges facing young people today, and what industry, education and policymakers can do to create lasting change. Link in the comments. Amarpreet Gill | Office of Sureena Brackenridge MP, Paula Sherriff | The Purpose Coalition, Tony Lewin | NCG, Clare Mooney | Clyde & Co, John Mckenna | The University of Salford, James Corbin | University of Kent, Sandhiya Patel MSc BA Hons | Travelodge, Chris Finn | Liverpool John Moores University, Nick Barratt | Royal Holloway, University of London

We've kicked off week one of our Civils Summer Programme, welcoming university students from across the UK for an introduction to Curtins and the opportunities available within our industry. Hosted by Lucy Mangan the session opened with Laura Rodríguez Ariza (CEng AIStructE), who introduced Curtins' approach to learning, development and careers, highlighting the many pathways available to help individuals grow and thrive throughout their professional journey. Students then heard from Curtins’ CEO, Neil Parkinson, who shared the history of the business, our growth over the years, and the values that continue to shape our culture today. We also heard from Lilian Gowans and Tom Leake, who shared their personal career journeys, experiences and advice for those entering the profession. Tom brought engineering to life through insights into landmark projects, including Imperial College London and the White City Campus, demonstrating the real-world impact engineers can have on the built environment. A fantastic start to the programme, providing students with valuable career insights, industry knowledge and inspiration. We look forward to supporting the next generation of engineers over the coming weeks. Welcome students: Bente Regina van West, Ammar Zayni, Ashray Modi, Bobby Patient, Boryana Atanasova, Callum Basra, Charlie Madert, Czar Collins, Deema Alsaeary, Destiny Anabaraonye, Dihan Akter, Ellen Barker, Hamdan Khan, Josh Darvell, Kwasi Antwi Amuzu-Opoku, Laeticia Ssenabulya, Lojain Hassan, Lorna Dolan Greene, Mark Reid, Maryam Begum, Maurice-Ransel Gallardo, Mohammad Khan, Mohammad Zeid Badulla, Nana Yaa Copra, Priyam Kapri, Rebar Abubakr, Saffia Ahmed, Sanad Bensuliman, William Hill, Yassir EL HALALI, George Serwanga