Member Article

North East firm constructs a path to growth

A North East structural engineering firm has expanded its team and moved into new premises on the back of a string of project wins across the UK.

Darlington-based AMP Consultants has moved from its premises in Morton Road to its new 1,000- square-foot office in Morton Palms Business Park after adding two young apprentices to its team.

This expansion brings AMP Consultants’ current staff number up to seven, with plenty of room in the Company’s new offices to accommodate additional growth.

The Company has recruited structural engineering apprentices Haydn McKenna, 17, and Matthew Baker, 20, both from Darlington, as its pipeline of work continues to grow.

Haydn joined the Company after deciding to pursue a career in engineering, while former Army engineer Matthew chose to gain additional experience in the sector instead of returning to college.

Haydn said: “I’m really enjoying my role here at AMP Consultants. There’s plenty of room here for me to develop and take on additional responsibilities as well as build on my knowledge around structural engineering.”

Matthew added: “I’m really glad to be working here as it’s much more realistic than college. Here I know that everything I put down on paper is going directly into live projects.”

AMP Consultants’ move comes in response to a number of projects that the Company has been enlisted to complete.

As well as working on an aircraft hanger in Birmingham, the Company is also designing elements of a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Media (STEMM) school in Blackburn, as well as providing designs for an extension at Lincoln University and also at a Gateshead fabrication facility.

David Hodgson, managing director of AMP Consultants and regional chairman of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), said: “It’s really encouraging to continue growing at a time when things are still very uncertain.

“Being the product of an apprenticeship scheme myself, I feel it’s right for engineering companies to take on apprentices, not only for the young people concerned, but also for future growth. Haydn and Matthew are a great asset to the team here and are already able to contribute to our live projects, and we hope that many more companies will take on apprentices to help drive forward the engineering sector in the North East over the coming months.

“Providing apprenticeship opportunities means that you can train your candidates to develop the skills they need to succeed within your sector, and this is crucial within this current climate.”

AMP Consultants will be encouraging many more young people to consider a career in construction and engineering through the ICE construction bridge project which is coming to Darlington.

Working as a team, students will be presented with the chance to construct a life-size bridge and experience first-hand what undertaking practical work in construction and engineering involves.

AMP Consultants provides complete structural design, architectural and engineering solutions covering the whole building structure, and also possesses an extensive portfolio of specialist capabilities.

For more information on the Company, please visit: www.ampconsultants.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Harvey and Hugo .