What makes you want to arrive at the desk on a Monday morning ready to get your teeth stuck in and do your best work?
We don’t like to show off but we do have some of the best transport planners, engineers and place makers working together at PJA to create better places through great design. We all share a real passion for what we do, but what do we think makes a great project we love to work on? We asked our team and they let us know:
“A good project is one where we’ve really made a difference in achieving a great outcome; and that fact has been recognised and rewarded by the client.”
Phil Jones, Chairman
“A good project for me is one where you work with likeminded people who want to achieve high quality output, where there is an equal voice for each discipline so that challenges can be overcome and incorporated into the development of a project and that this collaboration is acknowledged and valued by the client.”
Catherine Phillips, Associate Director, Landscape Architecture
“Maybe I am a bit strange, but the projects that I look back on and think “that was a good project” are always the ones which were most technically challenging and which took the most engagement with authorities. You get a real sense of achievement when you manage to get something over the line which was difficult. At PJA, I think that is something we are really good at; doing the technical work, coming up with an innovative solution and convincing authorities that it is the right solution.”
Kay Nicholls, Associate, Transport Planning
“A project that incorporates great design and public realm to create a place that people want to be in. A project you can be proud of!”
Lianne Brook, Senior Consultant, Active Travel
“A project where I can really put in some creativity and sound visual organisation with a client that appreciates great design. A thorough revision procedure to push the visuals to the best they can be, focusing on the bigger picture as well as the detail. Seeing the result working whether it be a visual for a public consultation or a brochure in print gives me great project satisfaction.”
Julie Cadwallader, Marketing and Graphic Design Manager
“A project with an informed, engaged client who has a clear brief and where the budget allows us to really think through options and develop the best possible scheme or proposal.
I particularly enjoy working on multidisciplinary projects such as “complete streets” schemes that bring together active travel, green infrastructure, placemaking etc. where we are creating great places as well as useful bits of transport infrastructure. The fact that PJA is so strong in transport planning, engineering and placemaking is what attracted me to the company as it gives me confidence that we will squeeze every ounce of benefit out of schemes rather than delivering “just” a cycle track or “just” a public realm scheme.”
Catriona Swanson, Associate, Active Travel
“A positive, honest, and mutually respectful relationship between us and the client, the rest then takes care of itself!”
John Myatt, Associate Director, Transport Planning
“A project where we are going to have a positive impact in local communities, by solving real life problems that affect the everyday life of individuals always gives me a project satisfaction. Also, I think a good project is one where I am able to help the development of junior staff, in terms of both technical knowledge and development of soft skills, to help them become the best they can be.”
Jane Overton, Senior Consultant, Transport Planning
Delivering on time and to budget (even better, early and under-budget!) and having a happy client who can meet their own obligations through our work. Finishing the project knowing that the client will come back to us – on the same project as it moves forward, and, again even better, for other projects. Working well with the wider project team (other consultants) where we’re all on the same side and aiming for the same result – where we try and make each other look good! Knowing our team (including me!) have enjoyed working on the project and have developed as a result – all the better if we’ve delivered something technically different or challenging and solved a difficult problem for the client.
Penny Pech, Associate Director, Project Management
“A good project is where we put forward a good solution to a problem and win the support of the client, stakeholders and the public. Seeing our projections come to fruition and knowing we have made a positive difference to a place and people’s lives is the ultimate reward!”
Sam Goss, Associate Director
“A great project team!”
Dave Woolley, Director, Engineering
Find out more about our services here
Sound like a company you’d like to work for? Owing to a growing portfolio of exciting projects, we are recruiting. Our current vacancies are here. If you share our passion for transport planning, engineering and placemaking, we would love to hear from you.
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