[Trigger warning: suicide] JN Bentley was delighted to welcome Anthony Hutton to site at Howdon Hub, in Tyne and Wear, where he gave a powerful presentation (and free haircuts!) to teams, all about men's mental health. After winning reality show Big Brother back in 2005, Anthony’s extreme taste of fame led him to turn to drink, drugs, and eventually contemplating suicide. Fast forward almost 20 years, Anthony is now a well-known barber based in the North East – a job that made him realise how valuable the one-on-one chats and friendships he had built with his clients were, leading to him setting up his project - 'Never Throw in the Towel – Keep on Living'. The initiative aims to support men's mental health and prevent suicide, by raising awareness and offering the opportunity to connect with others in a safe, open space and talk to each other. As the North East faces the UK’s highest rates of male suicide, the project targets the region to spotlight the issues that men encounter by not talking about their mental health. The construction industry also faces the same problem. Following his presentation, Anthony then set up his barber chair in our cabins and gave anyone who wanted one a free trim. Speaking afterwards, Anthony said, "The brilliant feedback I received after visiting Howdon gives me such satisfaction that this project and concept of speaking with the barber chair is a good initiative. "It was also great seeing the JN Bentley staff attend my free weekend mental health retreat too. The North East and construction are the worst region and occupation in the UK for suicide. This is a huge problem that needs to be tackled." JN Bentley operations manager, Andrew Shield, commented, "Anthony had a natural rapport with everyone on site and people really resonated with his personal journey and natural charisma. The feedback from the entire team was excellent and even the most sceptical of our team were positive about the message and the way it was delivered.” Sophie Naylor, wellbeing advisor at JN Bentley, added, "Given the startling statistics around mental health in the construction industry, supporting employee wellbeing is a key focus for us and we are delighted to see the positive impact the session with Anthony has had. "We know there isn't a single solution or approach that will work for everyone so our network of Wellbeing Champions are empowered to help shape and support our initiatives. The feedback and insights they provide mean we can encourage others to begin or continue the conversation." If you are based in the North East and struggling with your mental health, you can view local support services here.

JN Bentley has published its annual review for 2023. The review takes a look back on the last 12 months in JN Bentley and its fully-integrated design-and-build organisations, Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) and JBA Bentley. 2023 was the busiest year in the company's history and marked the start of a period of increased growth and opportunity. The period saw the delivery of some brilliant projects, all whilst maintaining a focus on safety, innovation and efficiency. Operations expanded into the south west of the country for the first time, alongside continued growth in sectors outside water. The annual review covers core areas of the organisation – including a focus on people, safety and money - plus case studies that demonstrate the very best of JN Bentley, MMB and JBA Bentley. We hope you enjoy the read. We have a small number of printed copies of the annual review available. To request a copy, please email communications@jnbentley.co.uk.

Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) is set to recommit to Anglian Water’s @one Alliance ahead of a new Asset Management Period (AMP8) for 2025 to 2030, in which the water company is proposing its largest ever package of investment. Existing partners – including MMB - have already delivered £1.3 billion in work, half of Anglian Water’s overall enhancement portfolio, so far in AMP7 (2020-2025). For AMP8, MMB will remain a full member in the @one Alliance from 1 April 2024, offering full feasibility, design, construction and commissioning alongside the Alliance’s other seven partners. The @one Alliance is set to deliver a record £2.6 billion of the water company’s overall investment in AMP8, with much of this work specifically targeted at protecting and enhancing the East of England’s natural environment and providing resilience to climate change. This investment portfolio forms part of Anglian Water’s wider, record £9 billion proposed plans for AMP8, which will see a huge programme of much-needed investment across the East of England between 2025 and 2030. Director at MMB, John Greenwood, said, "We are delighted to extend our arrangement with Anglian Water and the @one Alliance through to 2030. As a partner on the Alliance since 2015, we’re hugely proud of the work delivered so far. We are excited for what the next five years hold as we help Anglian Water deliver on its purpose, tackling the challenges facing this growing part of the UK." Jason Tucker, Director of Strategic Delivery and Commercial Assurance for Anglian Water, said: "The opportunity our next five-year regulatory period, AMP8, affords for Anglian Water and the @one Alliance to deliver on our purpose of bringing environmental and social prosperity to the region we serve is unprecedented. "The scale of investment to enhance our environment and secure water supplies for future generations is massive and I’m delighted that our long-standing and successful @one Alliance will continue to help us deliver our capital investment programme in support of our growing region." Anglian Water was one of the first utilities to introduce an alliancing model to deliver its capital programmes across the East of England. Since the @one Alliance’s inauguration in 2005, the company’s approach has been held up as an exemplar as part of the Government’s Construction Playbook. A key aspect of this continued success has been the embedding of performance incentives around efficiency, carbon, innovation, ED&I and culture. A key aspect of this continued success has been the embedding of incentives around efficiency, innovation, culture and high performance into the @one Alliance’s structure, in order to enable delivery of Anglian Water’s incredibly ambitious investment programme. Ian Hutchinson, Managing Director of Anglian Water’s @one Alliance, said: "Alliancing in this way allows partners to reimagine traditional ways of working by encouraging innovative thinking, advancement of new technology, and collaborative working between partners. This flexibility means that the @one Alliance plays a crucial role in enabling Anglian Water to deliver large-scale investments to build its region’s resilience against climate change. "By combining the @one Alliance’s partners’ years of investing in innovation and efficient delivery, we’ve been able to decrease the total cost of our proposed AMP8 plans from £10bn to £9bn, a 10% reduction. We’ve already seen how successful and powerful a truly integrated and collaborative alliancing approach can be. That’s why we’re delighted to welcome back our much-valued partners, along with Binnies this AMP, to support us in delivering this much-needed investment for our region." - Looking for a place to build your career? Find out more about careers at JN Bentley and MMB: careers.mottmacbentley.co.uk/ Follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook to keep up to date with the latest news from across the business.

Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) has taken home the coveted Net Zero award at the annual Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Yorkshire and Humber Awards. At Yorkshire Water’s largest sewage treatment works in Esholt, near Leeds, lead contractor MMB collaborated with supply chain partners Hyperion and Tarmac to explore the latest sustainable construction solutions and techniques – bringing to life a 3D-printed concrete design to replace standard applications. As a result, four bespoke drawpits – traditionally heavy, box-shaped structures placed underground for the containment of electrical cabling – have been designed and put in place at Esholt thanks to the new robotic technology. By challenging the design requirements and identifying carbon hotspots, the team have been able to implement the carbon hierarchy whilst still meeting the project outcomes and saving approximately 300 tonnes of carbon. The innovative scheme won the Net Zero award after the judges were impressed with the project’s “excellent commitment to net zero, reducing its embodied carbon by two thirds, while repurposing existing infrastructure thanks to clever collaborative design.” Ruth Watson, MMB Project Leader, said, “It’s been an absolute pleasure designing and delivering this scheme following the principles of build nothing, build less, build clever and build efficiently. More than ever we need to be doing what we can to tackle the climate crisis. "Esholt is a prime example of how the design and site team have strived to implement low carbon solutions by challenging different design elements through value engineering trial in the use of 3D printing and working with the client. Congratulations to all those nominated and awarded!" Congratulations also to the MMB team at Gouthwaite Reservoir - where a new siphon to improve drawdown capacity has been designed and constructed - and the JN Bentley team carrying out washwall repairs at Empire Mills for the Canal & River Trust: both projects were awarded certificates of commendation. MMB is committed to becoming net zero by 2040 through its carbon approach. The company is proud to be at the forefront of innovation in the industry, meeting clients’ needs for low carbon solutions and accelerating progress towards a net-zero built environment. You can check out all award wins on the MMB website. - Looking for a place to build your career? Find out more about careers at JN Bentley and MMB: careers.mottmacbentley.co.uk/early-careers Follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook to keep up to date with the latest news from across the business.

In 2023, JN Bentley’s Early Career Professionals (ECP) Network celebrated another fantastic year of initiatives, including its annual ECP day, site visits, sustainability activities and more. A community of over 400 colleagues and growing; JN Bentley’s ECP Network connects individuals across all disciplines and areas of the business who are in the early stages of their career. It provides a supportive environment centred around collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation that helps individuals to thrive and build a successful career. Every year, the network runs a variety of initiatives that aim to provide valuable insight, learning and connections to support individuals’ personal and professional career development. 2023 highlights Ana Farias, ECP Lead and Project Leader said: "We expanded several of our initiatives in 2023, including ECP chats with senior managers, our ‘for ECPs, by ECPs’ knowledge sharing series, and framework site visits. We also launched a new initiative to help people seeking professional qualification with Professional Institutions, hosting online knowledge share sessions covering a range of attributes.” ECP Day The second annual networking event for ECPs was hosted at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester. The event was attended by around 60 early career professionals and was an opportunity for colleagues to network, meet senior leaders and engage in small-scale workshop discussions on key topics including digital, inclusion and social outcomes. Read more about ECP Day here. STEM Our network of STEM ambassadors and ECP volunteers supported a variety of events in 2023 from large events run in partnership with The Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW) all the way to local primary and high school visits in the north of England. Site visits With our operations spanning across the country, a varied client base and a myriad of projects, our ECPs are exposed to a variety of projects. ECP site visits provided the opportunity for those part of different disciplines to experience live projects and learn about the technical aspects of schemes from experienced colleagues on site. ECP chats with senior managers We held 8 ECP chats with senior managers were held during the year. All from varied backgrounds and disciplines – from procurement to design and operations – ECPs can meet our senior leaders in an informal setting, get to know more about them and ask questions. Webinars and workshops To facilitate knowledge sharing across the business, ECPs hosted a variety of webinars and workshops covering a range of topics from wastewater treatment, sustainability, and carbon in the water industry. Professional attributes New for 2023, ECPs hosted sessions covering some of the key attributes required to achieve professional qualifications and chartership including sustainability, commercial, professional commitment and leadership and management. A great way to support each other on the route to Chartership and professional qualification! Sustainability Championing our sustainability and zero carbon agenda, Sustainability ECP Leads organised a variety of events during the year, including supporting Mott MacDonald Group’s Sustainability Week. ECPs delivered a presentation showcasing our six pillar approach to sustainability – the session was the most well attended of the week! Watch this space for even more bigger and better initiatives in 2024! Looking for a place to build your career? Find out more about careers at JN Bentley: careers.mottmacbentley.co.uk/early-careers Follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook to keep up to date with the latest news from across the business.

National construction and engineering company JN Bentley has secured places on two Lots within a new £600M Environment Agency (EA) framework. They will be working with the EA to provide asset operation, maintenance and response services across civil engineering and MEICA (Mechanical Electrical Instrumentation Control and Automation) projects. The new Asset Operation, Maintenance and Response (Asset OMR) framework will see JN Bentley undertake projects in three geographical 'hubs': North East – incl. Yorkshire and the North East North West – incl. Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire East – incl. East Anglia, Hertfordshire, North London and Thames. Projects delivered under the framework will each be worth up to £1 million, with programmes and multi project-packages awarded in excess of this value. It also includes a response service that provides the EA with resources and expertise in the event of breakdown or emergency situations. The framework extends JN Bentley’s long-standing relationship with the EA, which has seen the company deliver a variety of schemes across England. This ranges from smaller repair and maintenance, such as asset repairs, to multi-million-pound flood resilience schemes, such as the upgrade of the Foss Barrier in the City of York. Director Nick Lister, said, "We are delighted to have won a place on two Lots within the new framework with the EA. "With our large directly employed construction workforce based across all three geographical hubs, JN Bentley will bring to the framework its direct-delivery model that drives sustainable results safely and ‘right first time.’ "Thank you to the team involved in the bidding process and to our delivery teams who continue to demonstrate to the EA day-in day-out the value JN Bentley brings to any project. "We look forward to getting going!" Commencing this year, the frameworks last until 2027 with potential for a further one year extension. - Follow JN Bentley on social media: LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook to keep up to date with the latest news.

JN Bentley is proud to now offer the Skills Bootcamp in water and construction training. Providing practical training and valuable skills required for working in the industry, the Skills Bootcamp is open to those new to the industry as well as individuals who are looking to enhance their skills. What is a Skills Bootcamp? Skills Bootcamps are part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, helping everyone gain skills for life. They are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and an offer of an interview with an employer upon completion. Skills Bootcamp in water and construction training The Skills Bootcamp in water and construction training will provide you with the training and skills required for a water and utilities construction worker. The training will run for up to 16 weeks, depending on individuals’ existing experience and training. Courses will include: Construction Management Health & Safety Awareness Working at Height Manual Handling EUSR National Water Hygiene NOCN Abrasive Wheels SSSTS (2-day) EUSR Combined Butt Fusion & Electro Fusion Welding EUSR Flange Installation C&G Low Risk Confined Spaces Basic Excavation Health & Safety Awareness EUSR Category 2 Implement Safe (Digging) Excavating Practices EUSR Utility Location NPORS Forward Tipping Dumper/Roller Materials Handling Health & Safety Awareness NPORS Slinger Signaller The training is available nationwide, with hubs in Skipton and Shifnal. Start dates will be advertised and discussed during the application process. After completing the training, you are guaranteed an interview for a paid permanent role. Department Head for training and resources, Jamie Turnbull said: “I’m delighted that JN Bentley is offering the Skills Bootcamp in water and construction training. It’s a great opportunity not only for the business but for the wider industry – to help attract new talent, provide Skills for Life and build a sustainable workforce for the future. “As a construction and engineering business, we deliver lots of important projects for clients in the water sector and beyond, helping to keep the water flowing and providing innovative solutions to important issues like climate change. The Skills Bootcamp will allow us to provide critical training to boost the industry and provide resilience to the future workforce.” Interested in a career in construction? Learn more about the Skills Bootcamp and apply on our website. Please note, applications are reviewed to ensure they meet eligibility criteria. Applicants must be aged 19 or over, be eligible to work in the UK and live in England. Follow JN Bentley on social media: LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook to keep up to date with the latest news.

JN Bentley is currently recruiting for its next intake of apprentices – applications are now open and close on Thursday 29th February. Our apprenticeships We offer apprenticeships in a variety of roles, from engineering and quantity surveying to health and safety and business admin. Apprenticeships with us are hands-on from day one. You’ll have a dedicated mentor on hand to guide and support your development throughout as well as being enrolled onto our bespoke Early Careers Development Programme, designed to enhance your works skills, expand your network, and enrich your experience. Working daily alongside experienced colleagues, you’ll gain valuable experience and insight into the real world, earning whilst you learn, expanding your skillset and taking a big step towards building a successful future career. Find out more about apprenticeships and apply here. National Apprenticeship Week Coinciding with the opening of our 2024 apprenticeship programme is the National Apprenticeship Week campaign, which runs from 5th-11th February 2024. Keep an eye on our social channels (LinkedIn and Twitter) where we’ll be sharing lots of great content throughout the week – learn what a typical day or week looks like as an apprentice from current colleagues and hear from some of our mentors about the individual, business and industry benefits of apprenticeships.

Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) is hosting an open recruitment evening on Wednesday 7th February 2024 at Sandy Park Rugby Stadium and Conference Centre, Exeter between 6:00-9:00pm. If you are looking for a new challenge with a growing company, come along to meet our team, learn more about our business and career opportunities. Register for the event here. Date: Wednesday 7th February 2024 Venue: Chiefs Suite, Sandy Park Stadium, Exeter, EX2 7NN Time: 6:00-9:00pm. The event will be run in two sessions, kicking off with an introductory presentation about MMB followed by networking – an opportunity to chat to colleagues to learn more about the work we do and career opportunities. Session 1 – 6:00-7:30pm Session 2 – 7:30-9:00pm About us MMB is working with South West Water as one of two suppliers appointed to the company’s multi-million-pound water non-infrastructure programme. Running until 2028, with the potential for a five-year extension, the contract will see MMB bring its track record of innovative project delivery to the south west of England for the very first time. Learn more about how MMB is working with South West Water. Career opportunities There are opportunities across the business, from early careers pathways to senior management roles in all disciplines, including: commercial and site management, design, engineering and construction. Roles include: site managers, engineers, quantity surveyors, planners and design leads. Interested? Come along and chat to our team about career opportunities and learn more about MMB. You’ll find our colleagues in the Chiefs Suite at Sandy Park Stadium, Exeter, from 6pm until 9pm on Wednesday 7th February 2024. Register for the event here. - Find MMB on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) to keep up to date with the latest news from across the business..

Fully integrated design-and-construction company Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) has been awarded an AMP8 framework with Northumbrian Water. This new partnership will see MMB join Northumbrian Water’s new Living Water Enterprise, an innovative vehicle developed to deliver large scale construction programmes in AMP8 and beyond, supporting a £3.6bn workload. Northumbrian Water supplies water and sewerage services to just under 4.4 million people and has worked closely with MMB and JN Bentley since 2001.  In this time, the companies have delivered hundreds of engineering and construction projects together. This new contract will extend the relationship to at least 2030 and see MMB – which harnesses the contracting strength of JN Bentley and the design specialisms of Mott MacDonald - undertake treatment projects across the North East. Operations director for MMB, Tom Lewis, said, "We are delighted to have been named a partner on the Living Water Enterprise with Northumbrian Water. "MMB has a strong track record in the North East of England. Our talented team will bring to the Enterprise innovation and challenge that unlocks lower-carbon, affordable and efficient solutions. "We look forward to collaborating with Northumbrian Water and integrating with our fellow Enterprise partners to deliver record levels of investment in the region, to the benefit of customers and the environment alike." MMB’s current portfolio of UK water sector clients now stands at eight; together with Northumbrian Water, MMB is delivering work with Anglian Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Severn Trent, South West Water, Thames Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water. - There are exciting career opportunities across the organisation, including the North East of England. Please visit the MMB recruitment website or contact the recruitment team on 01756 691572 / recruitment@jnbentley.co.uk for details of current vacancies.