Natalie Bews was recently promoted to managing director of Concept Engineering Consultants and is an active member of the British Drilling Association.
Q. How do you describe your work when asked by someone outside the geotechnical sector?
At heart, I’ll always be an engineering geologist working for a drilling contractor. So I simply say I work for a company that drills boreholes in the ground to test it and to retrieve samples of soil and rock for logging and testing.
If the eyes of the person I’m talking to haven’t glazed over, I go on to explain that the samples are tested in a geotechnical lab, so that the information can be used to design foundation solutions for all construction projects. This would cover everything from motorways to high-rise buildings, houses to stadiums, new underground pipelines, wind farms and train lines – basically everything in the built environment.
Q. What do you enjoy most about your work?
I really enjoy the business development side of my work. I guess you could say I like the chase: identifying a future major project or emerging market and then investigating the potential geotechnical value of the opportunity. I like researching the existing project community, procurement routes and identifying the decision makers. I also enjoy ensuring we are not only on the tender list but are involved with the scope and design of the ground investigation (GI) to ensure the most value is gained from the GI phase of works.
GI is often still seen as the necessary evil and often a tick box exercise in the larger overall construction project. I am deeply committed to changing this view and at any opportunity trying to impress on designers, procurers, commercial executives and quantity surveyors the value that can be gained from an appropriate and adequate GI to reduce project risk.
The greatest risk to any project is the unknown, and the unknown is always in the ground. This is why we investigate it. So why not pay a little more to reduce and mitigate risk further down the line? An adequate and appropriate GI will pay dividends to the overall success of the project, because it may vastly reduce risk to programme and programme slippage due to unforeseen or unexpected ground conditions during the construction phase.
Q. What has been the most memorable project or assignment you have worked on and why?
It has to be the whole strategy, tender and procurement process that led to Concept being appointed as a supplier to Severn Trent Water’s framework agreement for GI services. When I first joined Concept at the end of 2018, I identified the framework as a springboard for business growth outside London. Severn Trent Water’s supply area covers the largest region in England and our Coventry office is in a prime location to administer the works.
I knew the asset management period was due for renewal during 2021, so had time to ensure the business was ready, able and fully equipped to put forward a wining tender. To do this we had to achieve utilities vendor database accreditation, recruit appropriately experienced staff to administer and project manage the framework, as well as recruit local drilling crews and establish an approved local supply chain. All this was successfully put in place ahead of the start of the pre-qualification questionnaire and tender process, the outcome of which was successful, with Concept being appointed to the framework.
Q. What are you currently working on?
Concept is currently working on various major projects and frameworks both in London and nationally. I am working to deliver Concept’s business strategy by securing and increasing a baseline of work from frameworks, and developing meaningful and long-term relationships with central and local government, public sector agencies and bodies and the major Tier 1s.
Outside of the day-to-day business I am working with an academy trust to promote the construction sector, and in particular geotechnics as a career option. It is at an early stage, but I am very much looking forward to assisting with the introduction and delivery of the new T Level 3 curriculum.
Q. Who or what inspires you?
The drive, enthusiasm and dedication of my Concept colleagues and those in the wider industry that are dedicated to the pursuit of excellence. I am inspired by people whose passion is endless, yet always relevant and most definitely infectious, such as David Attenborough and Brian Cox.
Within our industry, which is still so gender imbalanced, I am inspired by the incredibly strong women that have achieved and continue to achieve so much in their careers within geotechnics. They are constantly driving the industry forward, professionally, socially and sustainably to a brighter gender equal future. These are women like, Institution of Civil Engineers past president Rachel Skinner, Cowi director Jan Windle, National Highways GI and archaeology category lead Catherine McGrath, United Utilities principal geotechnical engineer Pam Rigby, Concept executive chair Anastasia Savidu, Buro Happold director Rachel Monteith, Raeburn Drilling & Geotechnical chief executive Anne Baxter and Geotechnical Consulting Group senior consultant Jackie Skipper, to name but a few.
Q. What challenges or opportunities should the geotechnical sector focus on today and in the future?
The ever-widening skills gap and the need to attract new talent into the industry, and in particular the drilling industry. At Concept we are engaging with the British Drilling Association and its apprenticeship scheme, putting candidates forward for the next intake this summer. We are also engaging with academy trusts, schools and colleges to give students a greater appreciation of what a career in the construction industry can actually look like. We want to show how diverse a career path in the industry can be: from skilled labourer to drilling supervisor; engineering geologist to quantity surveyor; safety, health, environment and quality assurance manager to managing director. The options for diversifying and progression are enormous.
Q. What would you tell people interested in a career in ground engineering?
Absolutely go for it! It is a vibrant, dynamic and constantly evolving industry. If you like a challenge and being part of a team and a tightknit community, then the ground engineering industry is definitely for you. No two days are ever the same, because no two boreholes are ever the same. Site works and the ground conditions of the UK can be extremely challenging. But rising to the challenge and working collaboratively with your team to solve problems as they arise is rewarding beyond measure. In all my days in the industry I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve had a dull day.
Q. Finally, what book, television show, film or podcast would you recommend to our readers?
My current go-to reference book is Essentials of Construction Planning and Scheduling by Graham Robertson and published by ICE Publishing. It is a plain talking, no nonsense practical guide on how to plan and programme projects right from tender stage all the way through to project completion and everything in between, including the importance of assessing project progress to programme.
