Our wonderful team are our greatest asset. Not only experts in transport, engineering and placemaking but also committed to delivering better places for people through high-level-service client experiences.
We’re very proud to continue to celebrate the faces behind the fast-growing international consultancy that we are today in our monthly feature ‘PJA People’.
Next up in our series is Principal Engineer, Nik Wooldridge, based in our Birmingham office:
Tell us what you do at PJA
I work in the engineering civils team in Birmingham, designing access junctions to proposed development sites, to support land promotion or feasibility aspirations and planning applications for my transport colleagues. Since joining PJA and the release of LTN 1/20, I have also developed preliminary active travel designs for public and private sector clients, which has been very enjoyable.
What’s your career path so far?
After graduating from Loughborough University with a degree in Civil Engineering in 2000, I was fortunate enough to be hired by Phil Jones (before he created PJA) as a Graduate Engineer in the transport planning team for a large consultancy in Birmingham. I was soon tempted to transfer to the engineering team and was subsequently promoted through the grades, working mainly on residential led developments at the detailed design stage through to construction. I joined PJA in 2020 for a new challenge and, after linking back with old colleagues, I joined the civils discipline and took on more major highways work. I enjoy the intricacy and challenge of the design process and feel very grateful to have worked with many humble people, with extensive technical knowledge to help my own personal development.
What do you enjoy when you’re not working?
I have always enjoyed sports (football, cricket, golf) and helped coach an U15 football team to league and cup success a few years ago. I also enjoy outdoor activities and challenges that provide physical and mental tests. My most fond memory was completing the Isle of Wight challenge in 2017, walking 106km around the island with a great group of friends. My family are also extremely important to me and I enjoy spending time in their company.
Are you a dog or cat person?
I recall when my sister and I were very young, we moved to a new house with a beautiful garden and we asked for a cat and a dog and a swing and a slide. We were lucky to get a swing and a slide, but unfortunately no cat or a dog … other than a stray cat, which we called Mackintosh. I have since grown to like the dogs in my family, a boxer dog called Basil and now a cockapoo called Nala. So I would have to say dogs.
Cockapoo, Nala
What are you currently reading or listening to?
Well, I have two books on the go, one entitled ‘Movement’ by Thalia Verkade and Marco te Broemmelstroet and ‘The Silkworm’ by Robert Galbraith, alias JK Rowling, although I’m easily distracted when reading.
Claim to fame?
Well, I feel ‘fame’ is relative and everyone can be ‘famous’ for what they do for others and how they are seen by their peers. Perhaps I could say knowing our Chairman Phil Jones with his immense stature in the industry. However, to try and be original I will say being shown around Parkhead, home of Glasgow Celtic Football Club in their centenary year 1988 by Billy McNeill, the then Celtic manager. He was a distant relative of my Gran on her cousins side (cousin’s, daughters, husband!) who agreed to meet us and took time out to show us round. I felt he was a person of huge stature and immense presence.
Nik Wooldridge with Glasgow Celtic Football Club Manager, Billy McNeill in 1988
Nik Wooldridge, Principal Engineer
Nik works in the engineering team with design and project management experience at all stages of the design process.
Focused on the delivery of residential and highways led schemes, from pre-planning strategic designs (drainage, earthworks, highways) through to securing technical approvals for on and off site Section Agreements.
Get in touch with Nik: [email protected]
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