Mark Hillyard

Said the following about AECOM Railway Electrification and Power Engineering Swindon:

“Having worked within the Rail industry for over 42 years I have experienced a wide range of team working environments. This nomination is for the team I had the pleasure of joining in 1990 as a designer and now lead as Electrification & Power Engineering Unit Manager.

Throughout the team there is a culture of collaboration and support, both for delivery of projects and the professional development of others within the team. From Apprentices to Engineering Managers, the whole team promotes knowledge sharing with training sessions open to all staff, and in the spirit of collaboration they have invited the client’s representative to join them in these regular learning experiences.

This year has seen five members of the team successfully complete their Higher Level Engineering Apprenticeships, many with Distinction. They are a credit to the team and can rightfully be proud of their achievement.

The senior members of the team lead by example, acting as Discipline Champions to capture best practice particularly for processes, systems and documentation, for the benefit of all projects. Their diverse backgrounds and extensive range of skills and experience has allowed the team to develop an excellent reputation with our immediate clients and within the wider Rail industry.

This year the team has played a major role in the enabling works for Phase 1 of the HS2 rail network. The decommissioning of the existing maintenance depot at Old Oak Common was required to facilitate the construction of a new interchange station to provide a rapid and convenient access for passengers between HS2, Crossrail and the Great Western Mainline services. The team reacted quickly and collaboratively to meet challenging deadlines while still delivering quality designs, despite immense time pressures in some instances.

Delivering under pressure was further evident in the design of the Gospel Oak to Barking Overhead Line Electrification scheme, where the team were responsible for the OLE design for a major, challenging section of route, featuring viaduct installation of newly introduced overhead line equipment. The team also provided critical construction support during network blockades to provide rapid response to critical issues. The flexibility and commitment of the staff during this period was an essential part of the projects success.

This year we have seen staff at all levels stepping up in their professional development and taking on the next challenge. They work for each other with a focus on each other’s safety, wellbeing and career development. They also take part in a wide range of social activities, promoting positive working relationships.

I am proud to be able to make this nomination on behalf of this fantastic group of professional engineers.

Thank you Team!“