Civil & Structural Division – 2020 first quarter update and outlook
Lethaby & Cook’s civil and structural recruitment division saw a spike in civil engineering work running up to the nations temporary state of lockdown. The current pause in activities and inevitable adjustment aside a significant number of clients are optimistic they will resume much planned recruitment. We have been placing engineers on HS2 and London’s Silvertown tunnel project, two of the UK’s largest heavy civil engineering schemes. These have typically been geotechnical, tunnelling and underground structures engineers from intermediate to project/ design management level. The government’s recent commitment to infrastructure investment means many of our regular clients will benefit from additional civils work resulting in essential recruitment.
The last quarter saw a number of engineers placed in forensic engineering and loss adjusting positions, we are approved suppliers to most of the UK’s leading firms in this sector. This is a profession that has provided an attractive new career path for chartered civil and structural engineers into a sector that is well rewarded and less exposed to economic fluctuations, not to mention providing intriguing, varied work. Whilst activity in this area has slowed during the pandemic, we are told recruitment will resume. There is evidence that claims, the originating point for forensic and adjusting activity increases in more challenging times as companies explore all avenues to increase revenue. Developer led infrastructure activity has been consistent too, there are still many L&C clients with long term work in this area who are providing good terms of employment for roads and drainage experts. Whilst we are all braced from some jarring adjustments in the civil and structural employment scene, there will be significant pockets of activity. There is also the prospect of a change of working habits for employers that adjust well to home working. Lethaby & Cook works with leading and reputable clients who are well set to remain busy in the face of some economic headwinds.