JBA Bentley is ten years old today!
Founded on this day in 2013, the integrated design and build contractor brought together JBA Consulting – one of Europe’s leading specialists in environmental engineering and management, with national civil engineering contractor, JN Bentley.
It was soon appointed to the Environment Agency’s Water and Environmental Management (WEM) framework. Working from offices in central Leeds, JBA Bentley began delivering a wide range of environmental and flood management schemes including environmental work, modelling, mapping, emergency planning, feasibility, detailed design and construction. The first scheme hit site in 2014.
A second framework soon followed – the Asset Recovery Programme of Works (ARPW) - as did a second office, this time in Peterborough to support our activity in the east of England.
2015 saw JBA Bentley demonstrate its credentials as a trusted supplier to the EA by deploying teams over Christmas to support the recovery efforts following the devastating Boxing Day floods – the first of several instances that teams have since reacted at short notice to support our client.
This also began our historic association with the Foss Barrier in York. After carrying out immediate recovery works, we went on to design and build award-winning permanent upgrades to better protect 2,000 properties in the city and make it more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
It wasn’t all multi-million-pound projects: the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) framework saw JBA Bentley undertake smaller value schemes across the Midlands, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and East Anglia. We also secured a place on the Marine and Coastal (MCF) framework.
Having now established itself, JBA Bentley’s focus evolved to start specialising in the safe and efficient delivery of low carbon solutions, placing sustainability at the forefront of its delivery. This was borne out in subsequent years through schemes including Bentley Ings Pumping Station – recognised by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE); tidal defences in Great Yarmouth – a winner at the British Construction Industry Awards, and a flood alleviation scheme at South Ferriby – a Green Apple Award winner.
Its client portfolio began to diversify, the Coal Authority and local authorities benefiting from JBA Bentley’s expertise in environmental engineering. This included a new mine water treatment scheme at Polkemmet in Scotland, and a new pumping station with Derby City Council, engineered to better project the city against flooding.
In 2023, works are on-going on a host of exciting projects across the UK – none more so than the Outstrays to Skeffling Managed Realignment Scheme. Here, new flood defences will create 275 hectares of intertidal and freshwater habitats provide food and habitat for a variety of bird species native to the Humber Estuary.
Thank you to every colleague, client, supplier, and stakeholder that has contributed to the success of JBA Bentley over the last ten years – here’s to many more!
Keep an eye on JBA Bentley's social feeds over the next two weeks as they celebrate ‘ten years in ten days’ through a series of posts looking at the very best of JBA Bentley. Find JBA Bentley on LinkedIn and Twitter.
