Ryan’s relishing the chance to play a key role in the future of civil engineering7th Feb 2025

Ryan George has set his sights on “making changes for the good of the industry” after being appointed vice chair of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) NextGen Southern Foundations Group.

With a goal of engaging with a broad range of disciplines from companies, organisations, and groups delivering our infrastructure, the Jones Bros project manager will assist chair Hugo Wrampling-Pounsett for a year.

The 29-year-old wants to encourage fellow young people into the sector by sharing his experiences and helping them reach their full potential.

He said: “I ended up in the world of civil engineering by chance and now I’m a project manage on Havant Thicket Reservoir with two master’s degrees.

“I wasn’t the best pupil in school, however, I really enjoyed engineering and that inspired me to choose the right path and do a part-time foundations degree at Plymouth College.

“I didn’t even know what a civil engineer was before I worked in the industry, so a big part of our role in the foundations group is signposting it for people.

“There is such a wide-variety of job opportunities within the sector, but there is a need to educate the public about them.

“We would all love for there to be more civil engineers, so encouraging and guiding the stars of the future is a primary focus for us.”

Whilst Ryan’s introduction to the sector took a little time, he’s more than made up for that with a swift climb through the ranks – an upward trajectory that shows no signs of stopping.

Having completed his foundations degree (FdSc), an engineering master’s (MEng) from the University of Plymouth and an MSc in construction project management from Nottingham Trent University followed.

It has all led to Ryan working on the UK’s first major water-storage reservoir in more than three decades.

Jones Bros and Mackley have joined forces as Future Water MJJV Limited to construct the £167 million Havant Thicket Reservoir in Hampshire.

The scheme is around 20 minutes from home for Southampton-based Ryan, who continued: “There’s something about the reservoir and water industry that really interests me.

“It is filled with challenges and problems to solve, and I love being part of a team that comes up with the solutions to those.

“I’m relishing being on a project of real significance and helping drive the standards befitting of such a scheme.”

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 500 people.

The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, waste management and renewable energy around the UK.

The company continues to run apprenticeships with many of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited hundreds of apprentices over the years.