Episodi

  • Malcolm Peake - Apprentices and technicians career paths and professional recognition
    Sep 1 2026

    https://www.talkcivils.com/engage

    If you haven't already, I highly recommend you listen to the first of these two episodes with Malcolm before this one.

    In this second of two episodes with Malcolm Peake we talk about a particular aspect of his work supporting career paths and professional recognition for apprentices and technicians. Malcolm explains his thoughts on the history of engineering, how the idea of a Mater and their trainee has been around for thousands of years. He sees apprenticeships and technician career paths as a modern version of that tradition, as well as a vital component of a successful Civil Engineering endeavors.

    Malcolm exudes enthusiasm for Civil Engineering and the career opportunities it provides with every story and anecdote he recounts. His hugely varied career has put him in an excellent position to assist others with finding the right career path for them.

    If you think you, or someone you know might make a great guest on the show please contact me through the contact form on my website or using the link below:

    https://4bwygp9l.forms.app/form/69f067f6cb1e2bec183ace6f

    Remember to like and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you'd like to leave a review head over to Podchaser via my website or at the link below:

    https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/talkcivils-6461373?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast_page&action=rate

    If you'd like to support the show and help me to deliver more great content please consider a donation through my website or at the link below:

    Support this Podcast

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    40 min
  • Malcolm Peake - Career path from general engineering student to the ICE and more
    Aug 25 2026

    https://www.talkcivils.com/engage

    In this first of two episodes with Malcolm Peake we talk about his decision to become a Civil Engineer, the time he spent on site and how that transitioned to the design office. His time overseas, and more recently as Membership Development Officer at the ICE and now back at Tony Gee and Partners as Professional Development Manager.

    Malcolm exudes enthusiasm for Civil Engineering and the career opportunities it provides with every story and anecdote he recounts. His hugely varied career has put him in an excellent position to assist others with finding the right career path for them, and indeed in part two we will be discussing in more detail some of the work he has undertaken to support just that.

    If you think you, or someone you know might make a great guest on the show please contact me through the contact form on my website or using the link below:

    https://4bwygp9l.forms.app/form/69f067f6cb1e2bec183ace6f

    Remember to like and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you'd like to leave a review head over to Podchaser via my website or at the link below:

    https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/talkcivils-6461373?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast_page&action=rate

    If you'd like to support the show and help me to deliver more great content please consider a donation through my website or at the link below:

    Support this Podcast

    For more updates between episodes or to join the conversation follow TalkCivils on:

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    42 min
  • Warren Rigby - M6 Clifton Rail Bridge replacement; the role of an award winning apprentice
    Aug 11 2026

    https://www.talkcivils.com/engage

    In this episode I talk to Warren Rigby about his apprenticeship route in to the contracting side of Civil Engineering and the role that he had on the challenging M6 Clifton Rail Bridge replacement scheme. Warren is a talented engineer with a passion for the industry and helping others follow in his footsteps. He was awarded the Tony Chapman medal in 2026 for the exceptional standard of his application for Incorporated Professional Review and his enthusiasm for Civil Engineering and ongoing engagement with the ICE.

    This episode might be of particular interest if you are considering or actively following an apprenticeship route into the industry, or would like to better understand how the system is working. Warren has some great advice for making the most of your training, and some pitfalls to look out for. He goes on to set out some of the opportunities ahead of him and talks about some of the work he is doing to promote wider early engagement with Civil Engineering.

    If you would like to know more about the Tony Chapman medal have a read of the links below:

    https://www.ice.org.uk/get-involved/awards-and-grants/awards-and-competitions/tony-chapman-medal

    https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/meet-the-engineers/warren-rigby

    If you think you, or someone you know might make a great guest on the show please contact me through the contact form on my website or using the link below:

    https://4bwygp9l.forms.app/form/69f067f6cb1e2bec183ace6f

    Remember to like and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you'd like to leave a review head over to Podchaser via my website or at the link below:

    https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/talkcivils-6461373?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast_page&action=rate

    If you'd like to support the show and help me to deliver more great content please consider a donation through my website or at the link below:

    Support this Podcast

    For more updates between episodes or to join the conversation follow TalkCivils on:

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    40 min
  • Bill Guo - AI for the Rail industry and how Civil Engineers should think about and use AI
    Jul 28 2026

    https://www.talkcivils.com/engage

    In this episode I talk to Bill Guo about is work on the use of AI to support the rail sector, and his work supporting the regulation of the use of AI in Civil Engineering more generally. We start by talking about where Bill's experience comes from, and I try to build a picture of his motivations and thought process. We then dig into his thoughts on how AI can, and should, be used, what its limitations are, and touch on some of the wider issues around its miss-use. He has some great advice for those looking to better understand the technology, and those looking to better understand what the future might look like.

    Bill graduated from Imperial College and is Chartered Civil Engineer. He has a broad understanding of the rail industry having work client side for Network Rail and therefore as part of a technical approval authority. He's worked delivery side for a large consultancy, and then also worked with a small business looking to expand into the rail sector. He is now the founder of AutomateX, https://automatex.uk/ 'Accelerating AI adoption for UK rail'. Bill's entrepreneurial spirit and thirst for knowledge comes over in spades, and he is passionate about bringing others with him on that journey.

    Bill has won awards for his outstanding contribution to the delivery of large scale rail projects, and is actively working with the ICE to help shape their regulation of and guidance on the use of AI. He is running an event in September to discuss exactly that: https://www.ice.org.uk/events/upcoming-events/ai-and-the-civil-engineer-reimagining-roles-in-infrastructure-delivery

    If you think you, or someone you know might make a great guest on the show please contact me through the contact form on my website or using the link below:

    https://4bwygp9l.forms.app/form/69f067f6cb1e2bec183ace6f

    Remember to like and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you'd like to leave a review head over to Podchaser via my website or at the link below:

    https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/talkcivils-6461373?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast_page&action=rate

    If you'd like to support the show and help me to deliver more great content please consider a donation through my website or at the link below:

    Support this Podcast

    For more updates between episodes or to join the conversation follow TalkCivils on:

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    53 min
  • Steve Richardson - Delivering the Barmouth Viaduct Replacement Scheme
    Jul 14 2026

    https://www.talkcivils.com | https://www.talkcivils.com/listen

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    Steve Richardson not only led the on site engineering delivery of the two parts of the Barmouth Viaduct replacement scheme, but also played a key role in the development and planning of the scheme, selling that to the project teams, local stake holders, and crucially the ultimate client (Network Rail). With 30 years of experience in the rail industry Steve has clearly developed an invaluable understanding of construction techniques, and the delivery of complex projects. His enthusiasm for his craft shines through, as well as his exceptional ability to communicate his thoughts, ideas, and process.

    If you would like to find out more about the project then have a look at the talks, paper, and articles below:

    Grade II* Barmouth Viaduct timber refurbishment | Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): https://www.ice.org.uk/events/recorded-lectures/barmouth-viaduct-timber-refurbishment

    Barmouth metallic reconstruction | Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): https://www.ice.org.uk/events/recorded-lectures/barmouth-metallic-reconstruction

    ICE Paper: https://www.emerald.com/jcien/article-abstract/doi/10.1680/jcien.25.00461/1367799/The-replacement-of-Barmouth-viaduct-metallics-from?redirectedFrom=fulltext

    https://www.tonygee.com/our-work/barmouth-viaduct

    https://community.griffiths.co.uk/our_projects/barmouth-viaduct/

    https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/barmouth-viaduct-upgrade-in-numbers/

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    If you think you, or someone you know might make a great guest on the show please contact me through the contact form on my website or using the link below:

    https://4bwygp9l.forms.app/form/69f067f6cb1e2bec183ace6f

    Remember to like and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you'd like to leave a review head over to Podchaser via my website or at the link below:

    https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/talkcivils-6461373?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast_page&action=rate

    If you'd like to support the show and help me to deliver more great content please consider a donation through my website or at the link below:

    Support this Podcast

    For more updates between episodes or to join the conversation follow TalkCivils on:

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    41 min
  • Liam Kimberley - Championing professional recognition for technicians
    Jun 30 2026

    https://www.talkcivils.com | https://www.talkcivils.com/listen

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    Liam Kimberley is the CAD and BIM Delivery Director at Tony Gee and Partners LLP and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. In this second episode of the two part series we discuss Liam's thoughts on the importance of the technician role within the industry and how these skills are rapidly being lost. He describes how changes in the way companies typically operate, misalignment of formal teaching with work experience, and other factors, have led to this situation. He goes on to make the case for consideration of more formal recognition of the technician role in the form of a new chartership title, and describes the work he and others have been undertaking in that regard.

    As Liam mentioned, if you want to know more, or would like to get involved with the work being done on this topic, then do get in touch with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-kimberley-a7719439/

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    If you think you, or someone you know might make a great guest on the show please contact me through the contact form on my website or using the link below:

    https://4bwygp9l.forms.app/form/69f067f6cb1e2bec183ace6f

    Remember to like and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you'd like to leave a review head over to Podchaser via my website or at the link below:

    https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/talkcivils-6461373?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast_page&action=rate

    If you'd like to support the show and help me to deliver more great content please consider a donation through my website or at the link below:

    Support this Podcast

    For more updates between episodes or to join the conversation follow TalkCivils on:

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    36 min
  • Liam Kimberley - An alternative path; Apprentice to CAD and BIM Delivery Director
    Jun 23 2026

    https://www.talkcivils.com | https://www.talkcivils.com/listen

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    Liam Kimberley is the CAD and BIM Delivery Director at Tony Gee and Partners LLP and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. In this first episode of the two part series we talk about his journey from fresh apprentice straight out of school through to his current role. Liam explains his thought process and advice he was given along the way. We learn how some of the decisions he made were unexpected, but his confidence in his own curiosity and diligence paid dividends. My takeaway from this conversation is the importance of Liam's clarity of thought, and his ideas and observations are backed up with tangible considered examples. Do listen to part two for an insight into the work he is doing now.

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    If you think you, or someone you know might make a great guest on the show please contact me through the contact form on my website or using the link below:

    https://4bwygp9l.forms.app/form/69f067f6cb1e2bec183ace6f

    Remember to like and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you'd like to leave a review head over to Podchaser via my website or at the link below:

    https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/talkcivils-6461373?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast_page&action=rate

    If you'd like to support the show and help me to deliver more great content please consider a donation through my website or at the link below:

    Support this Podcast

    For more updates between episodes or to join the conversation follow TalkCivils on:

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    35 min
  • Chris Ball, Sam Hobbs - IStructE Chartership; how to achieve MIStructE
    Jun 9 2026

    https://www.talkcivils.com | https://www.talkcivils.com/listen

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    This episode is all about Chartership with the IStructE, and in particular the process of gaining full membership (MIStructE). The application and in particular the exam is infamously challenging but equally hugely beneficial to your professional development and directly applicable to your every day if you are involved in technical design work. We hope to encourage potential candidates by sharing the details of the tried and tested approach to preparation that greatly improves your chances of success.

    My guests on this episode are Chris Ball and Sam Hobbs. Chris is an Associate Director and Sam an Associate (Engineer) in the Structures department of Tony Gee and Partners LLP, both talented and experienced engineers with a strong technical focus and a wealth of knowledge to share. We all sat and successfully passed the IStructE professional review in January 2020 at first attempt, and we put a significant part of that success down to the careful preparation technique we followed, as well as the support we were able to offer each other by preparing together. The conversation to some extent focuses on the 'Bridge Question' in the exam, as that is where our combined experience lies. However, there are many valuable and directly transferable lessons shared.

    There are links below to the main resources mentioned in the episode:

    • Sam's Website - www.thebridgequestion.org | Contact: sam.hobbs@tonygee.com
    • IStructE Technical Guidance Notes - https://www.emerald.com/books/book/19082/ICE-Manual-of-Bridge-Engineering
    • ICE Manual of Bridge Engineering - https://www.emerald.com/books/book/19082/ICE-Manual-of-Bridge-Engineering
    • SCI Bridges Initial Design - https://steelconstruction.info/Bridges_-_initial_design

    -----

    If you think you, or someone you know might make a great guest on the show please contact me through the contact form on my website or using the link below:

    https://4bwygp9l.forms.app/form/69f067f6cb1e2bec183ace6f

    Remember to like and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you'd like to leave a review head over to Podchaser via my website or at the link below:

    https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/talkcivils-6461373?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast_page&action=rate

    If you'd like to support the show and help me to deliver more great content please consider a donation through my website or at the link below:

    Support this Podcast

    For more updates between episodes or to join the conversation follow TalkCivils on:

    LinkedIn - LinkedIn

    Instagram - Instagram

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    46 min