Sustainability should be at the heart of businesses

Asa Whitfield is managing director at Whitfield Consulting Services

Climate change and the transition needed to meet UK and global net zero goals are shared challenges that we must all collectively contribute to. Whether you are talking to prospective clients, investors or members of your team, you will find the topic raised with increasing frequency. Added to that, many sectors – including those that we specialise in such as rail, and power and energy - are working toward targets set by the government, which create both obligations and opportunities to contribute to the work that will result from these.

Engineers have a huge role to play in developing solutions and innovations to achieve this transition to a more sustainable future. We believe that to contribute to that future, it is important to consider both the type of projects you work on and the practices and methods you utilise. Sharing our approach, we hope will open up a conversation about how engineering companies can support the UK’s transition to a sustainable future.

E for environmental sustainability

For WCS, our SustainableFuture strategy represents a conscious focus on work that is sustainable and contributes to meeting the UK’s net zero targets. In rail, this includes electrification and the maintenance, renewal and repair of civil structures, both of which are vital to creating a climate-resilient and sustainable network.

In power and energy, we are proud to partner with clients across a range of projects supporting the UK’s transition to renewable energy, such as Dogger Bank, the world’s biggest offshore wind farm, or Welborne Garden Village, where an entire community will receive power from an innovative ambient heat network.

Of course, such projects will only multiply as national targets for rail and power approach their deadlines. We are passionate that these projects not only do good but are also good business – and our experience has shown us that taking a sustainable approach is not a trade-off. We feel we stand as an example of how positive contribution here can mean growth, with turnover up 74% over the last 12 months and our team growing rapidly.

Another key aspect of understanding environmental impact and taking steps to positively contribute is measurement and being open to new tools and methods that contribute to more sustainable project delivery. This includes innovation by design; an example of this from a recent project is the designing out of steel reinforcement in switchgear foundations and replacing it with macro-synthetic fibre. This eliminated the need for 42t of reinforcing steel and 18t CO₂ equivalent accordingly.

We prioritise asset lifespan wherever possible and embrace modern methods of construction such off-site fabrication, using recycled materials wherever possible, as well as the reuse of actual structural elements such as foundations. These can all contribute to lowering the carbon footprint of a project.

Alongside this, we utilise new technology, including remote monitoring and modelling. To understand the potential impact, we use carbon measurement tools like the Rail Carbon Tool or National Grid carbon tool. We have found this very beneficial, especially during the optioneering stage of the design process. In one rail footbridge project, strengthening was selected rather than building a new one, which reduced embodied carbon by around 80%.

S for social sustainability

As well as environmental responsibility, ESG encourages companies to take a broader view of sustainability to include their role in society. At WCS, this encompasses how we support our team, the local community, and our contribution to wider society.

Despite the current skills shortage, our team has grown by a third within a year, including experienced engineers and new trainees. Supporting this is our commitment to diversity and continued learning and development (CPD) for all staff, mentoring for trainees, as well as the fact that prospective staff are interested in working for companies with a sustainable approach.

Our team works from our London and Northern Ireland offices, as well as remotely across the UK, Europe, and Southeast Asia, with a mix of nationalities and professional backgrounds. This creates strength, with each person bringing a grounding and skillset different from the next.

We’re committed to supporting future engineers and increasing diversity in engineering, through our work with local schools and universities, including work placements and school visits. We have a longstanding connection with Kingston University supporting their career and work placement events and have six graduates from the institution on our team. This year we have visited numerous schools, delivering a STEM project with our local primary, a Women in Engineering talk for secondary students and a careers fair. We also provide work experience to aspiring young engineers on a regular basis.

Our social value impact spreads much wider. Since 2020, we have supported the MicroLoan Foundation, which gives training as well as business loans to women in several Sub-Saharan African countries.

G for governance sustainability

Good governance is core to sustainability. Formal processes and accreditations demonstrate companies’ commitments to safe and responsible work, as well as transparency and oversight.

Our own work is founded on fully formalised internal processes. Our external accreditations include ISO9001, ISO45001 and ISO14001, as well as RISQS (Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme), CIRAS, Constructionline, Achilles Link-Up and Achilles UVDB. Our regular company meetings include features such as safety moments and shared knowledge sessions, presented by staff from all levels of the organisation, and we have systems to encourage feedback from any member of the team.

Walk the walk

WCS has committed to sustainability and good ESG practices. We started with broad aspirations and those have evolved into specific approaches to ensure the work we deliver is as sustainable as possible, while we have also developed community and educational engagement targeted at using our team’s skills and experience to benefit wider society and future generations and good governance to ensure we are responsible and constantly improving.

ESG - environmental, social and governance standards – and sustainability can become buzzwords without a formal and tangible commitment to taking action and being open to new approaches. As we look to create a more sustainable future, all engineers should consider their work’s impact and how they can make a positive contribution.

• Asa Whitfield is managing director at Whitfield Consulting Services

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