Manchester Roots, Global Reach
I’m currently donning the ever-glamorous title of Solutions Consultant on the Major AEC Platforms Team at ARCADIS – part of the dashing Engineering Applications Technology Team. It’s a bit of a mouthful, I know, but essentially, I help keep the wheels of digital construction turning smoothly for over 36,000 Arcadians across the globe. Not bad for someone based in a humble office up in Manchester, eh?
While my desk may sit comfortably in the North West, my remit is truly international. One day it’s helping a team in Sydney, the next I’m solving conundrums for colleagues in São Paulo. No passport stamps, sadly – just plenty of Teams calls and time zones to navigate!
Back to Where It All Began
Let’s rewind a few decades (brace yourselves)… all the way back to 1979, when I first stepped into the world of work at what was then known as Povall Worthington. Yes, I’ve been with the company longer than most mobile phones have been alive – and no, I’m not showing my age, thank you very much.
Back then, I was trained up as an Architectural Technician – all T-squares, tracing paper and a lot of rubbing out, or to be precice scratching out with my trusty razor-blade. But as the digital age crept in and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) made its entrance, I got curious. Very curious. And what do you know – curiosity didn’t kill the cat, it made him CAD Manager.
Digital Transformation, Before It Was Cool
Once I’d firmly cemented myself in the CAD scene, it wasn’t long before I was whisked into the Technology Team – our in-house band of tech-savvy warriors. We were the unsung heroes, dragging the construction industry into the 21st century one server upgrade at a time.
It’s been quite the journey, I must say. From hand-drawn blueprints to cloud-based collaboration tools, I’ve seen the lot – and helped implement much of it too. Call me the Yoda of digital construction, minus the light saber.
Mergers, Milestones, and More Acronyms
Now, for the business side of things. Over the years, the company name has had more makeovers than a reality TV star:
- 1997 – Povall Worthington teamed up with Flood and Wilson to create the delightfully named PF+W (Povall Flood + Wilson).
- 2000 – PF+W merged with EC Harris, another respected player in the built environment.
- 2011 – EC Harris joined forces with the global powerhouse ARCADIS – a consultancy dedicated to built assets, with professionals from every construction discipline under one rather extensive roof.
And that, dear reader, is how I’ve found myself part of one of the most influential consultancy firms on the planet, helping to shape cities, structures, and software alike.
Looking Ahead with Tech-Tinted Glasses
While the tools have changed, the mission remains the same – delivering quality, efficiency, and innovation across every project. I’ve gone from sketching buildings to sketching digital solutions, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Whether you’re an architect, an engineer, or just someone who likes a good career story with a bit of tech thrown in, I hope my tale shows how careers (like buildings) are all about strong foundations and the occasional refurbishment.
