FEATURE
Projects – Joe Melville , who recently became general manager of BC & T Consultants , has ambitious plans for the company .
Engineering consultants move into the heart of Teesside
WORDS : SARAH DALE PICTURE : STUART BOULTON
Looking across the horizon from BC & T Consultants ’ new offices in the heart of Teesside , general manager Joe Melville talks about the company ’ s history and how the combination of youth and experience is supporting the future of the business ...
Established in 1986 , BC & T Consultants is a multi-disciplinary engineering and design consultancy , providing process , mechanical , civil , structural and electrical , control and instrumentation engineering services to the process industries .
Formed in 1986 and based in Whitby , BC & T Consultants relocated to Kirkleatham Business Park in 2003 and continued to grow over the next 20 years . The company has established a niche for itself in storage projects and in particular LPG ( liquefied petroleum gas ) facilities , having designed some of the largest facilities in the world . Fast forward to July 2023 and the company , which has grown to a team of 24 , has relocated again to modern new offices in its very own building , Ash House , in Thornaby , which the firm acquired and moved into in July . The offices have stunning panoramic views of Teesside and some of its most beloved landmarks , including Roseberry Topping , the Transporter Bridge and the Infinity Bridge .
Joe Melville , 31 , joined the company almost eight years ago as a chartered engineer and recently became general manager . He has ambitious plans for the firm , with exciting projects on the horizon within the UK , Europe , UAE and Africa . He is a passionate engineer : “ Quality is at the heart of everything we do , and we believe
BC & T Consultants ’ new premises in Thornaby , which offer panoramic views across Teesside .
in quality over quantity and purpose over profit .”
Joe is a believer in “ growing your own talent ” in-house , promoting from within , and he introduced the firm ’ s first engineering apprentices this year , with plans to take on more next year .
“ Providing apprenticeships is a way of providing opportunities and giving something back to the Teesside area while growing our own talent ,” said Joe .
“ Geographically , we ’ re in a wellpositioned area . We ’ re at the heart of Teesside . That helps from a recruitment perspective . We are surrounded by other businesses of a similar nature here .
“ My take on the business was to modernise what we do – firstly , with new offices , creating a modern environment and , secondly , by bringing in young talent in apprentices . That ’ s not to say we don ’ t still need the grey hair of experience .”
During his time as deputy general manager , Joe worked for the former general manager , Les Proud , who is well known in the region and industry , and somewhat of a stalwart .
“ The time I had working alongside Les was invaluable ,” said Joe . “ When someone leaves , it has an effect . The more senior they are , the more effect it has . That level of knowledge and experience goes with them . It is essential that such knowledge is captured and shared with the future generations .”
BC & T Consultants ’ first engineering apprentices started earlier this year . The firm has worked with Teesside University and engineering institutes to ensure accreditation , which provide opportunities for apprentices to become professionally registered upon completion of their apprenticeship .
The company also works with Middlesbrough College , supporting work placements on T Level courses .
“ I was keen to give something back ,” Joe said . “ It ’ s very important as a local business to support locally where you can and provide opportunities for the youth who are coming through .
“ I think T Levels are a brilliant idea . They provide students with work experience in the industry . We want local students who want to learn and work here in Teesside .
“ We work on an international level , so people who work for us have the benefits of living in Teesside and travelling the world with work .”
T Level students complete work placements at the company and then , dependent on grades , they may be offered a degree apprenticeship . Apprentices spend four days in the office and one day at Teesside University .
“ Having young people here , whether as apprentices or on work placement , provides workplace balance and a different energy ,” added Joe . “ It ’ s good for everyone . Youth learns from experience and youth brings energy to a workforce .”
BC & T Consultants is part of a larger collective of companies under a group holding . The direct sister company to BC & T , specialist tank design company JM Dixon Associates in Newton-le-Willows , was acquired two years ago , while the bigger connected companies of Lloyd Jones Construction , which provide engineering , procurement and construction ( EPC ) services in the liquefied gas sector , have operations in Mauritius and South Africa .
The firm is currently recruiting engineers at all levels to support future projects . Email enquiry @ bct-consultants . co . uk .
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