Key recruits across the company’s Newcastle, Edinburgh and London offices have bolstered the business, growing headcount by an impressive 44%. This has created long term, progressive changes within the firm, with specific investment in their sustainability and BIM management teams.
The consultancy has experienced a rise in demand for its fresh and innovative mechanical and electrical engineering design solutions, working with several major new clients across the UK and Europe in the last year.
B&W are currently involved in several high profile commercial and community projects in the North East including the £12m construction of a 42,000sq purpose-built office and visitor centre for Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies (FDB) in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees.
The firm is also working on the design for Newcastle United Foundation’s multi-million-pound three-storey community hub in the heart of Newcastle and a Net Zero Carbon (NZC) office complex as part of the South Shields riverside development.
Steven Horn, director at Black and White Engineering, said: “It’s been quite a year for businesses across all industries but, despite Covid-related challenges, we’ve powered ahead with our growth strategy.
“Through continued investment in our employees and infrastructure, we’re now in a strong position to take the business forwards and having moved to larger premises in Newcastle’s Generator Studios, as well as opening a third office in Edinburgh.
“Our growing, highly talented technical team share a great mindset and have worked incredibly hard to get the business to where it is today, leading the way in mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) design.
“We’re working on exciting projects with some of the leading names in UK and European construction, development and architecture that showcase engineering design at its best. As well as office, mixed-use and commercial developments we are seeing huge growth in the specialist field of data centre design - an area that has continued to grow due to the demand for online services during the pandemic.”
The new team members range from apprentice to director level, with nine team members joining the London office, another nine in Newcastle and a further four employees onboarded in Black and White’s new workplace in Edinburgh.
The UK division of B&W was established seven years ago, starting with just one employee. Now boasting a 50 strong team, with 26 staff permanently based in the Newcastle office, the focus for the next five years is continued expansion, working on local, national and international MEP design projects. The company employs another 150 specialists in the middle east and overseas.
Horn added: “We’re hugely invested in the future of UK engineering, as well as leading the way when it comes to sustainable design and delivery. The industry is making great strides in creating best-in-class, innovative design but it’s facing a huge skills shortage too.
“Enabling young people to access the right routes to becoming a qualified MEP engineer is our goal and through our involvement in apprenticeship initiatives, like PlanBEE with Gateshead College, we hope to play a key role in developing future generations of UK MEP engineers.”
