Jonathan Stanforth

project engineer, Riverlinx CJV

Expertise

Construction, Design

Location

United Kingdom

My highlights

Working on Silvertown Tunnel

Working on Liverpool 2 Marine Berth Terminal

Becoming a Chartered Engineer

A day in my life

I typically work on piling operations within the South Portal area of Silvertown Tunnel works, on the Greenwich side.

I've carried out roles on temporary works coordination and delivery of construction on site.

Each day can throw new challenges - two days are never the same. I stay proactive and respond dynamically to a constantly evolving project.

A role as a civil engineer provides a platform to improve yourself and to offer a valuable service to the wider community.

Which individual project or person inspired you to become a civil engineer?

Engineering was pitched to me by my brother, when I was considering options to study for A-Levels to then progress towards a degree in civil engineering.

I always adopted the approach of choosing subjects I was good at, and went from A-Levels in maths and design, to a degree in civil engineering. A professional highlight to date has been achieving Chartered Engineer status.

We asked Jonathan…

I would recommend a career in civil engineering because…

It's wide-ranging and varied. There are many opportunities and working environments that provide a challenging and diverse career, all which contribute to enhancing the environment and stimulating the economy.

A role as a civil engineer provides a platform to improve yourself and to offer a valuable service to the wider community.

What’s the biggest/most complex thing you’ve made out of Lego? How long did it take you?

I'd say it was during a bridge building exercise, where the group had to work together to construct a model to support increasing amounts of weight to failure.

This was one of the more memorable CPD activities and I'd like to see more of these activities arranged in future.

Complete this phrase: I’m a civil engineer, but I’m also…

A runner. This is one of my passions in life.

I love nothing more than grabbing my trainers and heading for a run to train, clear my head, and generally improve my health and fitness.

This is also a time when I organise my thoughts and have had some lightbulb moments!

What about being a civil engineer gets you out of bed each morning?

The variety of projects and roles. This range of responsibilities and construction activities keeps you fresh, constantly challenging you to satisfy project demands and programme constraints.

What’s one great thing that you love about civil engineering that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?

Being part of the ICE.

Having built experience to achieve targeted attributes and progress from MEng to IEng and CEng has provided me with a strong foundation of engineering knowledge and given me the opportunity to meet a range of professionals from inter-disciplinary backgrounds, improving my holistic overview.

Which civil engineering project (past or present) do you wish you’d worked on?

Given the opportunity (or if I was born a century sooner) I would've liked to have been involved in the delivery of one of BAM Nuttall’s flagship projects – the Liver Building.

This landmark building is synonymous with Liverpool and has led to the company being awarded many prestigious projects in the area.

Name one civil engineering myth you’d like to bust.

That civil engineering is male dominant industry.

I'm constantly seeing more women encouraged into the industry, providing a wealth of experience, improving diversity and strengthening the workforce on all projects.

Has civil engineering helped you overcome any personal hurdles/difficulties?

A while back I suffered an injury, and I was limited by use of a neckbrace. BAM Nuttall provided an environment where I could continue to work and gain managerial experience, continuing to develop rather than enter a period out of work during recovery.

The diversity of the project allowed me to provide valuable work, in a period where I wasn’t able to attend site.

Any hobbies?

Running, reading, mentoring undergraduates, spending time with family and friends and eating good food.

Silvertown Tunnel will connect Silvertown and the Greenwich Peninsula in East London through a 0.9mi (1.45km) tunnel under the River Thames.

Silvertown Tunnel

Silvertown Tunnel will connect Silvertown and the Greenwich Peninsula in East London through a 0.9mi (1.45km) tunnel under the River Thames.

Jonathan's career path

A-levels included maths and design, progressing to a MEng in Civil Engineering at Loughborough University where I obtained a 2:1 result.

In terms of professional training and qualifications, I've trained in temporary works coordination, site management safety and a range of construction-related areas specific to marine works (i.e. practical courses such as lifejacket and man over-board training).