WSP boosts ranks with new graduates

Birmingham professional services consultancy WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff has demonstrated its commitment to helping to address the skills shortage in engineering with the appointment of nine graduates and four apprentices to the Queen’s Drive-based consultancy. The firm has also appointed an associate, Maria Batko, to its environmental team, and a senior electrical engineer to its building services department. Five of the new intake will work within the rail team, three in environment, four across building services and structures, three in development and one in highways and bridges. Associate Maria Batko brings 15 years’ experience to the role and among other projects, has worked on the Eurasia Tunnel Project – a project WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff has been involved with - as an environmental and social specialist, being part of Lenders Technical Advisory team. The project involved the construction of a double-decker tunnel passing under the Istanbul Strait, and the expansion and improvement of the connection roads. Maria said: “During my short time so far at WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff I have been impressed with the projects portfolio and expertise of team members. There are a lot of interesting energy projects in pipeline that I relishing the prospect of being involved in.” Rebecca Fagan is a graduate consultant in the environmental department and applied online through the firm’s graduate programme. She said: “I was always interested in science but it was during my A Levels that I decided I wanted to study environmental science, so pursued an environmental geology degree at university. “The role at WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff is perfect for me as I am really keen to continue with fieldwork - I’m not quite ready to give up standing in the rain soil-logging for a 9-5 desk job! “I love working in a multidisciplinary company and seeing how all the different parts of the business work together to see a project through from start to finish.” Jack Bradbury gained an apprenticeship in the firm’s rail team, which he applied for online – in pursuit of a career in engineering driven by his desire to take the opportunity to help design infrastructure for future generations. Jack supports the rail team with aspects of road design in relation to provision around rail lines. He hopes to become a chartered engineer. Malcolm Davidson, director at WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff in Birmingham, said: “The intake of apprentices and graduates nationally and in Birmingham is high on our agenda and important for the sector as a whole if we are to ensure the provision of world-class engineers in the future. “We welcome the new starters, who will be play a significant role in helping us continue to deliver a high quality service.”