5 Reasons to Work for a Small Structural Engineering Consultancy

When considering your next career move as a structural engineer, bigger isn’t necessarily better. Small consultancies can offer opportunities that are difficult to replicate in larger organisations – particularly for engineers who want responsibility, variety and the chance to develop beyond pure design work.

Here are five reasons why.

1. Learn directly from experienced engineers

In a smaller consultancy, there are fewer layers between you and the most experienced people in the business.

At Michael Aubrey Barrow, that means the opportunity to work directly alongside highly experienced engineers, including a former Vice President of the Institution of Structural Engineers, within an innovation award-winning practice.

It’s not just about learning calculations or codes. Working closely with experienced engineers on complex existing buildings, investigations and expert witness work develops something harder to teach: engineering judgement.

2. Develop through a genuine breadth of work

It can be easy to become specialised very early in a large organisation. Smaller consultancies often provide much greater variety.

Our engineers can find themselves working on commercial refurbishments, office-to-residential conversions, defect investigations, RAAC, expert witness projects, existing buildings and architecture-led structural design.

That breadth of experience keeps the job interesting – but, more importantly, can accelerate your development into a well-rounded engineer.

3. Take real responsibility earlier

Small teams rely on everyone making a meaningful contribution.

That can mean leading client meetings, managing your own projects, visiting sites and making engineering decisions much earlier than might be possible within a large corporate structure.

There are fewer places to hide – but also far more opportunities to shine.

4. Learn the business, not just the engineering

A successful consultancy needs more than good calculations.

Working in a smaller practice gives you exposure to clients, architects, surveyors and contractors, as well as fees, proposals, networking and winning new work.

You might attend a networking event, help develop a client relationship or contribute to a new business opportunity. For engineers who ultimately want to lead projects, teams or businesses, that commercial experience is invaluable.

5. Be visible – and help shape the future

In a small company, your contribution gets noticed. Good ideas don’t have to travel through layers of management before something happens.

You can influence how projects are delivered, how the practice develops and, as your career progresses, take on increasing responsibility and leadership.

For an ambitious engineer, that visibility can create opportunities that go well beyond the conventional career ladder.

And, as it happens, we’re currently recruiting!

Michael Aubrey Structural Engineers is looking for a structural engineer who is approaching or has recently achieved Chartership.

If you’re looking for more than simply your next engineering job if you want;

• greater responsibility
• direct access to experienced engineers
• genuinely varied projects and
• the opportunity to play a visible part in the future of a practice

– we’d like to hear from you. Simply email us at hr@mapl.co.uk

A smaller consultancy can offer a bigger opportunity. Could Michael Aubrey Structural Engineers be your next move?