From technical supervision and on-site ground investigations to report writing, no day is the same for Caulmert senior geotechnical engineer Callum Egan.
Joining in April from a Chester-based consultancy, he has a wealth of experience working for utility companies such as Scottish Water, as well as government organisations Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency.
Callum, who is based at the St Asaph office, is currently overseeing the geotechnical and design elements of a multi-million-pound contract for a new Welcome Break services in York, which encompasses a 40-metre single-span bridge over the A1M motorway.
Working alongside a team of 11, Callum has led ground condition investigations ahead of writing a report, which will flag up potential risks to review before the plan is progressed and building begins.
He also oversees collaborations with local construction firms, as Caulmert will often act as a design partner on larger projects, which requires him to be involved as a point of contact for clients.
Reflecting on his time with the consultancy so far, he said: “I hit the ground running when I started the job – getting stuck into work right away, which was ideal for me, as the best way to familiarise yourself with schemes is to immerse yourself in them.
“I was initially involved in the enabling works at Denbigh Hospital, a grade II listed building with plenty of history. I investigated the feasibility for installing bat houses and a new spine road for the first phase of the development.
“This job certainly gives me plenty of variation, as I spend a lot of time outside and have the opportunity to see new places while attending site visits.”
Callum cites the design side of his responsibilities as a key interest, as well as identifying solutions for any problems.
He continued: “I’m passionate about finding the most sustainable way forward for a client, whether it’s reusing on-site materials or identifying a local source.
“I approach everything I do with an open mind, and I’ll often see investigating ground conditions as detective work because it presents a challenge and warrants logical thinking.”
A Fellow of The Geological Society, Callum is working towards chartership, an accreditation which will open doors to further training opportunities and career progression.
He added: “This is a huge goal for 2024, and as the application process is notoriously difficult, I’m taking time to prepare myself.”
To further support Callum and the wider team following an influx of contract wins, Caulmert is recruiting for a graduate geotechnical engineer.
Founded in 2009, Caulmert is on track to meet an ambitious growth and development plan.
Its expertise in a variety of planning, environmental and engineering disciplines is supported by its use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to a level two standard in many of its projects.