Twice a year, our Birmingham, Manchester and London teams come together for our company-wide Business Update, a day dedicated to sharing where the business is heading, but just as importantly, to championing our culture and values whilst spending time with colleagues from across our offices. This time around, the whole team gathered in Birmingham for a day packed with insight, celebration and connection.

Setting the Tone

The day opened with a talk from Martin, our new Ground Engineering Technical Lead, who joined Link with a strong background in diversity, equity and inclusion. Martin highlighted the benefits diversity of experience and ways of thinking bring, from better problem-solving as people bring different approaches and skills to the table, to stronger respect and understanding across teams, and greater adaptability in competitive markets.

“As a neurodivergent (autistic, dyslexic and dyspraxia) and visually impaired person in engineering, EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) is important to me because it helps create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background. Everybody Doing It in small steps helps to ensure that barriers to progression, unconscious bias and unequal opportunities are identified and addressed, allowing people to be valued for their skills and contributions. It also creates a more inclusive culture where individuals feel respected, heard and able to bring their authentic selves to work. So for me, EDI is about fairness, respect for one another and creating an industry where future generations can see engineering as a career that welcomes and supports everyone to thrive.” – Martin, Ground Engineering Technical Lead

It set a positive and inclusive tone to the day, and we’re delighted to have Martin’s experience with championing diversity at Link.

Our Values & Our Vision

With so many new faces in the room, it felt like the perfect opportunity to recap our company values, structure and journey so far. Leadership shared their vision for the business and how they’ll be supporting the team through the next phase of growth. There’s a very exciting development on the horizon which we’re not quite ready to share yet – watch this space!

We also took the chance to reflect on some of the great social activities and ESG achievements we’ve had this year. Our social team Will and Blayn have organised some fantastic events, from VR Sandbox sessions and World Cup watch parties to games nights and rooftop cocktails. It’s these kinds of moments that turn a team of 50 into a real community!

We’ve also given back to the local community through work experience placements, apprenticeships, volunteering days, supporting children’s football teams and building relationships with schools and universities. Our Principal Civil Engineer, Dylan Purewal has recently taken up the mantle of ESG lead and has already made a great impact by helping organise the Link Green Commute Week, which is just one of our many sustainable travel schemes.

“For me, ESG is simply about doing business the right way. It’s about thinking beyond short-term results and considering the impact we have on our people, our communities and the environment. I’m proud to be leading this work and helping ensure ESG becomes part of how we think and operate every day.” — Dylan Purewal, Principal Civil Engineer

New Systems, New Projects, and New Faces

The team got a first look at the upcoming changes to our internal systems and processes, designed to cut out friction from day-to-day work. Before our Structures team gave the room a glimpse into their world, including a fascinating London-based project we’ll be sharing more on soon.

Then it was over to Alan Yan, our new London Director, to introduce himself to the wider team for the first time. He shared some great highlights from his career, including working on the National Tennis Centre in Qiddiya City, Ellison Institute of Technology in Oxford, UCB Headquarters Campus in Windlesham, and the new London Museum Smithfield. Fun fact, Alan is included in the Guinness World Records!

Our Ops Director, Jess, closed out the morning with a look at the Link 4 You benefits package, along with a preview of a brilliant new benefit offering launching in August.

Industry professionals recently gathered at Dirty Martini Birmingham for an exclusive event hosted by the Link Engineering team that blended networking with a vibrant social atmosphere. The evening brought together friends and colleagues from across the sector, creating a space for meaningful conversations and new connections.

Guests enjoyed a selection of expertly crafted cocktails alongside delicious food, all set against the backdrop of a lively and welcoming venue. Beyond the drinks and dining, the event served as a reminder of the importance of collaboration and the partnerships that drive success.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who attended and continues to be part of this journey. Here’s to many more opportunities to connect, collaborate, and celebrate together.

At Link, our philosophy is to engineer aspirations. This means we don’t just execute designs; we partner with clients to achieve their goals for performance, value, and reliability. A recent project stands as a powerful testament to this approach, where our value engineering expertise delivered a staggering 38.3% reduction in drainage costs for a client, saving an estimated £934,313.

The project involved preparing development plateaus and access routes for future building plots. While appointed for site infrastructure design under a Design and Build contract, our most significant impact came earlier, during a Value Engineering review of the tender drainage design.

The site presented a complex set of challenges, including:

• A significant 50m fall in topography.
• Shallow mine workings and historic shafts.
• Deep areas of made ground.
• A public right of way and proximity to the West Coast Mainline.
• Strict environmental performance and planning requirements.

Our expert team redesigned the drainage strategy to overcome these hurdles efficiently and cost-effectively.

The Result: A Leaner, Smarter, and Safer Design

By re-engineering the proposed drainage solution, we achieved substantial savings without compromising on performance or compliance.

Total Project Savings: £934,313
Overall Cost Reduction: 38.3%

How We Delivered Exceptional Value

Our approach focused on two key areas:

1. A Smarter Pipe Network Design

• Reduced Total Pipe Length: Eliminated 125m of unnecessary piping.
• Eliminated Oversized Pipes: Removed the need for expensive 2100mm diameter pipes.
• Optimised Installation Depths: Shifted the design to avoid complex and costly 5–6m deep excavations, prioritising a safer and more efficient 2–3m depth range.

2. Simplified and Streamlined Infrastructure

• Reduced Manholes: Cut the number of manholes required from 24 to 18 units.
• Streamlined Materials: Optimised pipe diameter ranges for greater efficiency.
• Enhanced Water Management: Improved the overall strategy for managing surface water runoff.

Beyond Cost Savings: Building a Better Project

The financial saving was just one part of the success. Our optimised design delivered critical additional benefits that accelerated the project and reduced risk:

• Enhanced Safety: Shallower excavations significantly reduced trenching risks.
• Faster Installation: A simpler design led to quicker construction times.
• Simplified Maintenance: A more efficient network is easier and cheaper to maintain long-term.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint: Minimised equipment needs and energy use during installation.

This project underscores how strategic engineering design from the earliest stages is not an added cost, but a major investment in a project’s viability, safety, and bottom line.

Are you looking to optimise your next project? Contact us today to discover how our value-driven approach can deliver exceptional results for you.

Link Team Celebrates Prestigious Recognition at New Civil Engineering Awards

Excitement filled the air as the Link team arrived in London for the New Civil Engineering Awards, where we were honoured to be shortlisted for two prestigious awards: Best Place to Work and SME Consulting Firm of the Year.

A United Team Effort

Representing the full breadth of our company, team members from across the business made the journey to the ceremony. From our Marketing Apprentice to our Directors, colleagues from Operations, Civil and Structural departments all came together to celebrate Link’s achievements. It was a proud demonstration of our collaborative spirit.

An Evening of Inspiration

After arriving in London, the team headed straight to the awards venue where initial nerves were settled with some well-earned drinks before the main event. With over 30 categories recognising excellence across the civil engineering sector, anticipation was high.

The evening began with a captivating keynote speech from Penny Mallory, the first woman to compete in a World Rally Car championship. She shared her extraordinary personal journey from overcoming homelessness to breaking barriers in motorsport, delivering powerful insights about mental resilience, control and commitment. Her words provided both inspiration and perspective for the celebrations to come.

The Moment of Truth

As the awards ceremony commenced, all eyes were on the first relevant category: Best Place to Work. While we didn’t take home the top prize this time, the team remained in positive spirits knowing our strongest chance was still ahead.

Then, in what became the most competitive category of the night with 10 outstanding firms nominated, the final moment arrived: the SME Consulting Firm of the Year award. The tension was palpable as the announcement approached…

And then came the news …. Link was named Highly Commended SME Consulting Firm of the Year

Celebrating in Style

With formalities complete, it was time for proper celebrations. The team took to the dance floor with enthusiasm, creating some memorable (if somewhat unconventional) dance moves and singalongs that kept energy levels high until the very end of the evening.

Sharing the Success

The following morning, we visited our London office to share the fantastic news with colleagues who couldn’t attend the ceremony. This achievement truly belongs to everyone at Link as it’s our people who make this such a special place to work and such a respected name in the industry.

A heartfelt thank you to the entire Link team! We look forward to building on this achievement in the future.

We have made some updates to our organisational structure recently which will assist in achieving our future growth plans:

How will this effect you?:

1. With effect from 07.2025 Link Engineering (Birmingham) Limited has been renamed to Link Engineering Consultancy Limited. All other business details, including the companies house no. (11790137) and VAT number (GB314971791), remains the same.
   
2. With effect from 2025 Link Engineering (Manchester) Limited, companies house no. 12964419, will cease / has ceased trading. All undertakings will move / have moved to Link Engineering Consultancy Limited.

If you have any questions, please contact admin@linkeng.co.uk.

Link Engineering was establishing itself this time five years ago and our mantra was engineering first. By this we mean, be ready when called upon to get projects moving quickly. It combines our passion for quality engineering with our commercial mindset.

To us this means:

• Understanding and working with, but also challenging the planning system and industry standards 

• Investing in and developing a great team who are motivated by excellent engineering and navigating challenges

• Developing ourselves as leaders

• Ensuring our senior team remains close to the scoping and delivery of projects so they get off to the best start and stay on course.

You may have heard we’ve expanded our services?!

Link has expanded significantly since its beginnings in 2019. We now have a team of thirty, and we operate out of two offices: one in Birmingham and the other, which we have recently moved into, in the centre of Manchester.

Manchester Is on The Map! 🗺️

We recently secured an office space in the centre of Manchester. Our growing Manchester team is now at No.1Spinningfields. Here, the team will have the opportunity to network with other forward-thinking local businesses, bringing plenty of opportunities to interact and work together, whether it’s over a cup of coffee from the on-site barista or playing a friendly game of table tennis with colleagues. We’re looking forward to onboarding new team members into Manchester shortly – updates on this to follow soon.

Birmingham is award winning! 🏆

We are thrilled to announce that Reach Business Coaching recently awarded Rob Gill, Nick Moore, and Jess Moore with the Work Environment Award 2024 for its Birmingham office!

The award was given in recognition of Link’s commitment to creating a working environment that supports the wellbeing and productivity of the team. Before the team moved into the office in May 2023, Link’s leadership team co-designed an office space which reflected it’s brand and working approach. The result was a bright and fresh environment fit for a growing team.

Link is more than simply a place of employment; it’s a team where everyone works together to continually improve our technical delivery and have fun along the way! We are grateful to our brilliant team for making Link a great place to work.