WSP colleagues marked UK's National Engineering Day

WSP celebrated National Engineering Day by discussing how it can engineer better lives, challenge outdated perceptions, and inspire future engineers. WSP asked its colleagues why they are proud to be an engineer, and how their work can make an impact on lives.

WSP Assistant Engineer, Joanna Bateman, said: "I'm proud to be an engineer at WSP, where my team and I are designing traffic signals and safe crossing facilities, playing a part in providing healthier and more sustainable travel options for those walking, cycling and driving in our communities."

"I'm proud to be an Engineer at WSP, where we are making the world a better place by designing the most sustainable lighting solutions for our clients, considering where not to light, and using the most effective products, adopting to a circular economy approach," shared Head of Business, Rebecca Hatch.

WSP Senior Consultant, Susan Leadbetter, works with people from many different backgrounds to create better and more inclusive places. "If you thought engineering was just for men, then you're mistaken. I'm privileged to work with inspiring women every day," she said.

Forging better environmental outcomes and innovations

Associate/Group Manager Emma Jenkins said: "On this National Engineering Day I'll be making the world a better place by pushing for better environmental outcomes and innovations in our projects as well as developing technological advances in Digital EIA."

Meanwhile, Associate/Group Manager Vicky Belton shares: "I'm proud to be a civil engineer at WSP, where we are making the world a better place by improving our road connectivity, creating a safer network including more space for pedestrians and cyclists."

Engineering has a positive impact on lives

WSP Executive Director, ESG & Government Relations, Rachel Skinner, supported the UK's National Engineering Day by joining a panel discussion at the UK House of Lords with The Royal Academy of Engineering. Chaired by Lord Mair, discussions were held about the many ways engineering can have a positive impact on lives.

Rachel said: "Happy National Engineering Day! I was really pleased to join the panel at this morning's House of Lords event to kick off the day with the Royal Academy of Engineering. Via a Question Time format, we dug into a huge range of topics from the unique ways that engineering offers real careers with clear purpose, transformational change in engineering skills including better inclusion and diversity, boosting apprenticeships, the energy crisis and linked opportunities to accelerate to net zero. So much alignment; so many ideas - and so much to do to engage and inspire problem solvers across the world to choose to join us!"

Speaking at a Highways UK event, WSP Head of ITS, Louise Lawrence, gave some calls to action for engineering: "Focus on diversity and representation in leadership and recruitment, fill the gaps in the data, stop guessing - invest in social science to understand behaviour."

Engineers make a difference in the world

Since November 2019, the Royal Academy of Engineering has led a national awareness campaign via National Engineering Day to raise public awareness of how engineers make a difference in the world, and to celebrate how engineers shape the future.