Disability Pride Month – a colleague perspective on accessibility at SYSTRA

Disability Pride Month – a colleague perspective on accessibility at SYSTRA

This month is important because it promotes the rights of people with disabilities at every level of society, and helps start positive conversations.

As an organisation, we at SYSTRA pride ourselves on accessibility for all.

Accessibility is achieved by enabling individuals to speak up about their challenges, and then adapting processes, as well as the organisation, to tackle the challenges that are presented.

There is a clear avenue for individuals to speak up through both our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Group, as well as the Wellness Champions initiative.

What can sometimes be seen in some workplaces as a more challenging step is finding the correct ways to adapt, so that all individuals are supported and in the best position to succeed.

In this Insight article, our colleagues speak openly about their experiences with disabilities and how accessibility is addressed in the SYSTRA work space.

Benedict Andrews is a Project Analyst in our Engineering Business. He said: “In my experience SYSTRA addresses accessibility well and is consistently finding ways to improve their approach and create an inclusive workplace for all.”

“This understanding displayed in SYSTRA that Neurodiversity is a strength rather than a weakness is displayed throughout the business through the Disability Equality Diversity and Inclusion Group.”

He pointed out that the ‘Disability Crew’ has representatives from every area of the business, and is a crucial forum for the individuals affected by accessibility issues to be able to give their solutions.

“Many of which may not be identified by able-bodied and neurotypical individuals,” Benedict said.

“This forum pushes innovative ways to address accessibility and allows those who face accessibility issues to create their own solutions.”

Project Administrator, Jay Warburton, said she believes the company has thought of everything to make new employees feel welcome and to cater for all their needs.

“If they haven’t, then they 100% make sure that is rectified,” she said.

“Some people may say that the company holds too many surveys or meetings, but that is because of the need to listen to their staff and take things on board.”

Rachel Goodwin, a Senior Planner at SYSTRA, lives with a condition called Fibromyalgia. The NHS defines it as a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body.

Rachel says her reality is that she has a huge range of other symptoms which include, chronic fatigue, constant joint pain, numbness and tingling in both legs, acute knee pain, migraines, anxiety, brain fog and increased sensitivity to pain, noise, and temperature. She has most of these daily and often experiences a flare up, which makes everything so much worse.

“Inevitably, this can impact on my working life at SYSTRA and before hybrid working my sick record was setting off triggers all over the place,” she recalls.

Rachel said she has utilised the assistance programmes available through the company, and they have helped by providing valuable support and resources.

“I also have a great line manager and wider team,” she added.

“I always feel fully able to be honest about how I am feeling which is helpful if I need to juggle some work around or adjust my work hours.”

“Being a Wellness Champion at SYSTRA means I have a platform to use my experience and voice to raise awareness, and start conversations, which is actively encouraged.”

At SYSTRA we are proactively working to build diverse and inclusive workplaces that respect, value and optimise the contribution of all our employees. Find out about equality, diversity and inclusion at SYSTRA here.

Excavation completed at Old Oak Common station

Over the past three years a staggering 1.3 million tonnes of London Clay has been removed from the station box – that’s enough to fill more than 300 Olympic-size swimming pools!

Construction is being delivered for HS2 by the Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA joint venture (BBVS JV), working with specialist structures contractor Expanded. The JV took full possession of the site in July 2020, and over the past four years has been working hard on the station box, which has involved the creation of a diaphragm wall and plenty of piling activity.

The box is 20m in depth and a reinforced concrete base slab up to 2m in depth is being poured throughout. Some 32,000 tonnes of steel rebar, assembled by hand on site, has been used in the box alongside 160 reinforced concrete columns which have been installed inside the outer wall to help support the structure.

The conveyor system to remove the excavated materials became fully operational in November 2022, and has removed the need for more than 75,000 lorries from the roads. The conveyor took the spoil to the nearby London Logistics Hub, from where it has been transported by rail to beneficial reuse sites in Kent, Warwickshire and Cambridgeshire.

All steel used was 100% responsibly sourced and most of the concrete used is produced by the London Concrete batching plant on site, which reuses rainwater in its mixes. Now the box has been full excavated, the team will be working to pour the final sections of base slab to fully complete the box.

Nizar Awad, Old Oak Common Project Director at SYSTRA, said: “This milestone is truly significant in the Old Oak Common station project and a proud moment for every member of the team. It is not only a construction achievement but it has had a positive impact on the environment too by reducing the need for HGVs and ensuring reuse of materials. We now look forward to the next phase of the work to bring the station to life and bring high speed trains between London and the Midlands.”

Six 450m platforms will be constructed in the underground box for HS2 services. Above ground, eight further platforms are being built, and will be served by the Elizabeth Line, Great Western Mainline services and the Heathrow Express. Old Oak Common station will become one of the country’s most vital transport hubs which will be directly connected on the UK’s railway network to more than 170 destinations.

The east end of the underground box has been handed over to HS2’s London Tunnels contractor, who are preparing to construct HS2’s running tunnel to Euston. Two giant tunnel boring machines will be lowered into the underground box later this year, before the station team commences building the roof structure of the super-hub station.

Learn about our work on HS2 here.

Helping enhance the everyday – inspiring insights from SYSTRA’s women engineers on International Women in Engineering Day 2024

A diverse workforce that reflects the communities we work in means we enhance our capabilities and our capacity for innovation and optimum performance.

Aligning with that vision, this year’s Women in Engineering Day, taking place on 23^rd June is focusing on the theme ‘enhanced by engineering’. The event celebrates women engineers around the world and the work they are doing to support lives and livelihoods. The aim is to highlight the people making a difference and building towards a brighter future.

At SYSTRA, we’re proud of the opportunities we provide across our engineering teams and the collaborative work with partners to create places that truly thrive. We spoke to some of our inspiring women engineers at SYSTRA and asked them how they feel their work is helping to enhance lives and build towards a better future.

Charlotte Woodhall-Jones, Discipline Lead (Geotechnics), has a career that spans multiple sectors. She said:

Amee Shah is a Bridge Engineer with more than 15 years’ experience. She said: “SYSTRA gave me an opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping infrastructure that supports societal growth, economic development, and environmental sustainability, thereby contributing to a better quality of life for people now and in the future. It gives me a sense of gratitude and fulfilment for each day spent at work.

Alice Kimmitt , is a Delivery Manager in the engineering business who works on HS2. She said: “I make daily decisions on what I feel is the best course of action for my team and how we provide the best services and value to our client. These decisions all ultimately support the end goal of improved rail links.”

Lola Rodriguez is a Principal Engineer (Geotechnical) at SYSTRA. She said: “As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, I have not personally encountered additional challenges related to gender biases and stereotypes. I have always believed that competence and dedication are the true measures of one’s capability. I am proud to say that my contributions have been recognised and valued, paving the way for greater gender diversity in our industry. I strongly encourage other women to consider careers in infrastructure and engineering. The field is rich with opportunities to make a tangible difference, and diverse perspectives are crucial for innovation and success. I am grateful for the challenges I have faced and overcome, as they have shaped me into a more capable and confident professional. I hope my journey will inspire more women to step into the world of infrastructure development and make their mark.”

Jenny Jefferies, Technical Expert (Consents), said:

Our ambition for our colleagues is to create a diverse, inclusive workplace which allows everyone to be themselves and give their best. An inclusive workplace means we’re better able to serve our customers and contribute to a more equal society.

As our latest report highlights, we continue to make positives steps to closing the gender pay gap, and we identify a number of specific strategies to further improvement. This includes actively engaging with women in our workforce, understand their experiences and promoting work experience opportunities via organisations that work with under-represented groups to tackling unconscious bias in our recruitment processes.

Our HR Director Suzanne Walker said: “As the business continues to grow and develop, we recognise that promoting equality, diversity and inclusion is a key priority that we need to drive forward with continued passion and energy.”

SYSTRA designers lead South Lanarkshire’s replacement River Clyde bridge at Carstairs

South Lanarkshire Council asked SYSTRA to design a cost-effective River Clyde crossing to replace the original Pettinain Road Bridge near Carstairs, 30 miles southeast of Glasgow. The original bridge was closed to road traffic in 2018 for structural safety reasons. The new bridge crossing was formally opened at a ceremony on Monday, 22nd April 2024, restoring a much needed and well-used route for the local community.

SYSTRA’s Signature Team used a proprietary ‘Mabey’ bridge truss design without piers for the new 90m span crossing, making it the second longest ‘Mabey’ bridge in the UK. The total cost of the works is significantly lower compared to typical permanent bridge crossing solutions – this was justified by the rural location and relatively low amount of road traffic. The bridge was launched from the south side of the river, and the construction of the bridge had minimal impact upon the river’s natural habitat and its riverbanks which was a key design factor.

SYSTRA’s designers work on bridge projects throughout the UK and globally. In the UK, the team is currently working on several highway and rail viaducts and bridges for HS2 near Birmingham as well as bridge and viaduct structures along the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU East) between Leeds and York

Jon Iribarren, Principal Engineer (Bridges) at SYSTRA, said: “The team worked collaboratively with South Lanarkshire Council to make sure the right solution was found to deliver the Council’s accessibility, safety and environmental goals within budget. The new bridge is an asset to the local community and will improve the quality of life for many people.” Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “This new bridge restores a much needed and well used link for the local community. As well as vehicles, it will also promote active travel with pedestrian access, and it feeds into the wider cycle network for the area.”

SYSTRA publishes its Sustainability Report 2023

The year 2023 was marked for SYSTRA by the launch of its Climate Trajectory, based both on the exemplary nature of our daily practices within the Group and on our ability to offer our clients solutions that respond to the effects of climate change.

Each of our subsidiaries has proposed a plan to reduce its carbon emissions, and we are involved in a Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approach to reduce our emissions in the short term.

Another major lever for action is our sustainable design and construction framework, which focuses on issues relating to biodiversity, choice of materials, air quality and water management.

As for our employees, we are proud to see that they are involved in local communities, particularly through their participation in community projects.

Sustainability Report 2023

Find out how SYSTRA makes a difference.

SYSTRA’s Jenny Jefferies named among The Planner Magazine’s Women of Influence 2024

Jenny, who is currently working on HS2 as part of SYSTRA’s Signature Team for high speed rail and consenting, was nominated by her team and was thrilled to find herself on the prestigious list.

Jenny said: “As someone who isn’t a town planner by trade but has worked in planning and consenting for all of my career it’s still a surprise to find myself on this list with such an inspirational group of women.”

The Planner publishes its Women of Influence list to mark International Women’s Day. Candidates were nominated by readers, before a panel of seven expert judges selected a final list of women that they felt ‘illustrated the breadth and depth of women influencing planning across the UK and beyond.’ With its non-ranked and non-competitive list, the Planner seeks to highlight and celebrate the ‘impact of women on planning and planners.’

Jenny’s unconventional career path certainly fits the bill. She graduated from Newcastle University with a Master’s in Environmental Biogeochemistry in 2009. In the years that followed, she worked as a site supervisor on contaminated land sites, undertaking groundwater monitoring and testing and soil testing. Her roles saw her conduct flood risk assessments and Environmental Impact Assessment coordination, giving her a thorough understanding of the context in which important and high-stakes rail projects are built.

Jenny has been working on the HS2 project for SYSTRA for the last four years. In her main role as Consents Delivery Manager, Jenny has been managing and leading the delivery of the planning and environmental consents required for the permanent railway to be constructed.

Jenny’s nomination citation mentions her ‘remarkable grit and resilience.’ It is this, combined with her technical knowledge and communication skills, that has helped her to successfully navigate the frequently complex world of stakeholder management and planning consents.

The fact Jenny was nominated by her team reflects the high regard with which they hold her. Jenny has fostered an environment in which her team feels supported and can thrive, encouraging colleagues to reach for new opportunities or to pursue professional registration.

Encouraging and lifting up others is a topic close to Jenny’s heart. She continued: “One of the highlights of my professional life has been working with other women that have inspired me from the beginning of my career – Anna Butler, Lucie Anderton and Karen Sagar. They really helped me to believe that I can progress without barriers, and without having these role models I wouldn’t have made the moves in my career that I did.”

This theme was echoed in the speech Jenny gave at the UIC world congress on High Speed Rail in Morocco in 2023, which happily coincided with International Women’s Day. As well as speaking about improving the social and environmental impact of infrastructure planning for high-speed rail and the importance of sustainability in the sector, Jenny took the opportunity to champion female leadership at the highest levels of town and infrastructure planning.

SYSTRA track engineers support Falkirk heritage railway through PWI challenge

Peter Mitchell, Senior Engineer, and Kevin Man, Engineer, were part of the SYSTRA team which acted as principal designer for this year’s challenge – a track renewal project for the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway.

Facilitated by the Scottish Rail Preservation Society, the project included re-ballasting (200m) through a cutting, re-sleepering through a set of reverse curves, and some detailed geometry tamping.

Having supported the challenge team with detailed designs ahead of the work taking place, Peter and Kevin then headed up to Scotland to take part in the two-day build. As well as being on hand whilst the design was being brought to life, they assisted with the regauging of points, observed panel removal and re-ballasting, as well as geometry tamping in different sites. They also learned about the latest innovations and offerings from supply chain companies, and gained valuable insights and collaboration opportunities by working with fellow volunteers from across different parts of the rail industry.

Peter said: “It was a rewarding experience to be part of the PWI Practical Trackwork Challenge, both in the design stage and construction. The Track team at SYSTRA grasped the opportunity to give back to a heritage railway by offering our track design expertise, and Kevin and I thoroughly enjoyed time on-site for the construction phase too.”

Kevin added: “There’s nothing like seeing your design in the real world, and knowing that it was as part of a challenge that gives those earlier on in their careers the chance to get hands-on made it even more special. It was fantastic to see the teamwork come to life and it was an experience I will treasure.”

Darren Kirkman appointed to Transport Planning Society Board

Darren Kirkman, an Associate Director with SYSTRA’s consultancy business in the UK & Ireland, has been appointed a Board member for the Transport Planning Society (TPS). Darren has been a TPS member for six years and a former North West of England regional representative for the society.

At SYSTRA, Darren is currently part of the team advising the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on its ‘Levelling Up Fund’ development, as well as conceptualising mobility hubs for England’s Economic Heartland. Darren recently developed the London Borough of Newham’s sustainable transport strategy.

On his appointment at the TPS AGM earlier this month, Darren said: “I’ve worked in transport planning for almost 20 years and felt it was a good time to give back to the profession.

Sebastien Dupont, Managing Director (Consultancy) at SYSTRA, added: “Darren is a highly motivated transport planner and project manager focused on urban development and infrastructure projects.

“Darren’s understanding of policy and strategy development gained from his time at MerseyTravel and Transport for Greater Manchester are second to none; his proven success in supporting authorities on business case bids are testament to his expertise.

“We are extremely proud of Darren’s appointment as the TPS plays a vital role in shaping the future of transport planning and its impact on society.”

SYSTRA’s Charlotte Woodhall-Jones named as one of the Top 20 Women in Ground Engineering 2024

SYSTRA is delighted to announce that Charlotte Woodhall-Jones has been chosen as one of the Top 20 Women in Ground Engineering. Charlotte joined SYSTRA in December 2022 as the new Discipline Lead for Ground Engineering. She leads a team of over 40 geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists that delivers major transport projects in the UK and overseas.

Charlotte is both a chartered geologist and a chartered civil engineer, a rare combination. She has over 20 years’ industry experience in the public and private sectors, working on major road and rail projects such as the East Leeds Orbital Route and recently opened Ebbw Vale Rail Enhancement project, South Wales.

Charlotte’s work on the redevelopment of the historic Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon was pivotal at the beginning of her career and laid the foundations for Charlotte’s future career and fascination in ground engineering. It involved constructing a 20m bore hole underneath the stage to investigate the ground conditions while the theatre continued to operate.  

Within a year of joining SYSTRA, Charlotte has transformed her team into a connected, energised, and forward-looking unit. Charlotte established progressive workshops for her team to understand and celebrate difference in social and learning styles to ensure that colleagues with neurodivergent traits do not feel marginalised. Charlotte’s team is currently delivering the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU East) between Leeds and York.

Nia Kajastie, Editor at Ground Engineering Magazine said she was particularly struck by Charlotte’s “bold leadership style and her passion for equality and diversity in the workplace which has led to initiatives to support and encourage neurodivergent colleagues in her team.”

Find out more about SYSTRA’s Ground Engineering team here.

SYSTRA appoints David White as Director of Health, Safety, Security & Sustainability

SYSTRA Ltd has appointed David White as Director of Health, Safety, Security & Sustainability to lead the business’ commitment to keeping colleagues safe and well, and lowering the carbon impact of its UK & Ireland activities. He brings a wealth of experience delivering positive cultural change in this context in a number of sectors including construction, pharmaceutical, food manufacture and wastewater treatment.

Nick Salt, CEO of SYSTRA Ltd, said: “We’re delighted that David has joined the senior leadership team at a time of significant growth in transportation and adjacent markets. Above all, the health, safety and security of our colleagues and the solutions we provide is our priority and this comes hand-in-hand with our sustainability mission.”

David White added: “I’m proud to be joining the signature team at SYSTRA and look forward to supporting colleagues in the world-wide SYSTRA Group. I have no doubt in their absolute commitment to providing a safe and sustainable future for everyone. I believe every individual has a part to play and I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues across the business to bring our values, and responsibilities, to life.”

To find out more about sustainability at SYSTRA, visit our Sustainable Future page. For the full details of SYSTRA’s health and safety commitments, visit our Health, Safety & Security page.