Following a recent audit, JN Bentley – including Mott MacDonald Bentley – has received ISO 27001 accreditation for information security management. ISO 27001 is an internationally recognised standard that provides a framework for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) to provide continued confidentiality, integrity and availability of information as well as legal compliance. Achieving ISO 27001 builds on our existing suite of accreditations and will help us to improve the security of our information and systems, ensuring we maintain continuity of work and our reputation with clients. Neil Coupe, Head of IT at JN Bentley said: “Receiving this accreditation recognises our continued commitment to managing information safely and securely for our clients, partners, employees and the business. Ahead of the audit we ran several company-wide campaigns, aimed at raising awareness of information security and providing colleagues with the knowledge and tools to help keep our data secure. “We shared various resources with colleagues, including posters, information flyers and stickers on machines and screens to act as visible reminders of information security risks and best practice. “As part of our company incident reporting procedures, employees can now report information security related events in the same way as health, safety and environmental events, which will encourage safe behaviours and working practices. “Our Information Security journey will be continual, as we endeavour to equip our colleagues with the knowledge and skills to help being secure. Our continued campaigns will help to remind and further embed best practice, as well as help to drive continual improvement and re-certification." Find and follow us on socials – LinkedIn, Twitter – to keep up with the latest news from across the business too.

JN Bentley has been awarded gold membership from The 5% Club, recognising their investment in early careers through ‘earn and learn’ schemes. JN Bentley is one of just 107 employers across the UK who received gold membership at The 5% Club’s Audit Awards, held at the House of Lord on 30th November. The 5% Club is a dynamic movement of employers committed to providing ‘earn and learn’ opportunities through apprenticeships, sponsored student course placements and graduate training schemes as part of building and developing the workforce they need for the future. The Club exists to help its members and all employers to further increase the number, quality and range of earn and learn opportunities across the UK. The 5% Club’s Employer Audit, a benchmarking programme, offers an enhanced, prestigious level of membership which recognises the UK’s leading employers of apprentices, graduates and degree placement students. The Audit provides each employer taking part with official accreditation as either a Bronze, Silver or Gold member of The 5% Club, along with an exclusive benchmarking research report. By joining The 5% Club, members aspire to achieve 5% of their workforce in earn and learn positions within five years of joining. Taking part in the Employer Audit for the first time this year, JN Bentley’s achievement of gold membership – with 8.5% of employees in earn and learn roles – this demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to early careers and is recognition of a long standing tradition of investing in apprenticeships, placements and graduate schemes. Pictured: Helen Bradford, Lead Learning and Development Advisor at JN Bentley receives gold membership certificate at awards House of Lords awards ceremony. Judith Jeffery, HR Director said: “Early careers have long been part of JN Bentley’s approach to attracting more young people to careers in the construction industry and building a sustainable workforce for the future. We continue to champion apprenticeships, provide year-out placements, sponsor students and provide graduate schemes in a variety of roles to support this. “Our early careers programme continues to grow, going from strength to strength each year. We currently have over 100 apprentices, placement students and graduates working with our teams across the country – this number will increase again next year as we’re now actively recruiting for early careers roles starting next summer. “Receiving gold membership is a fantastic achievement for the business. It shows our commitment to investing in early careers and recognises us as a top employer, providing earn and learn opportunities in the UK.” We’re currently recruiting for a variety of earn and learn roles across the business – find out more and apply here. Find and follow us on socials – LinkedIn, Twitter – to keep up with the latest news from across the business too.

JN Bentley celebrates its 50th anniversary today. The construction and engineering contractor was founded on this day (7 December) in 1972. With roots firmly in Yorkshire, it has grown in the years since and now delivers projects with valued clients in a variety of sectors across the UK. A rich heritage JN Bentley began life principally involved in water and sewerage works for the water authorities in Yorkshire, as well as civil engineering works with local councils. It added general building projects to its portfolio in the mid-70s before turning its attention to civil engineering schemes such as pipelines and pumping stations. Image: Learn more about JN Bentley’s history on our heritage pages The organisation increased the range and scale of its building projects in the 1980s, working with the likes of Rolls-Royce and the Metal Improvement Company, with whom it delivered its very first £1m project. The 1990s saw a more civil engineering-focused business once again, particularly through strengthening links with Yorkshire Water. This led to the formation of the hugely successful Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) joint venture in 1999. MMB harnesses the design expertise of global consultancy Mott MacDonald and JN Bentley’s contracting experience to provide a fully integrated design and build service that remains a cornerstone for the company’s continued success in the water industry. The relationship with Mott MacDonald strengthened further in 2014 when JN Bentley joined the Mott MacDonald Group; in the years since, £2bn of work has been delivered together. The 2010s also saw the formation of a second joint venture – this time with environmental consultancy, Jeremy Benn Associates. As it closes in on its tenth birthday, JBA Bentley continues to focus on the safe and efficient delivery of low carbon solutions with the likes of the Environment Agency (EA) and Coal Authority. JN Bentley in 2022 Today, JN Bentley can boast a varied client base, built on trust and the continued delivery of first-class projects. This includes seven of the UK’s largest water companies (Anglian Water, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent, Thames Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water), as well as the EA and Canal & River Trust, local authorities and industrial building clients such as Rolls-Royce, Procter & Gamble and Associated British Ports. It continues to innovate, with a keen focus on digital transformation, sustainability and carbon – all whilst remaining true to its core values of directly employing people and keeping them safe and happy at work. Image: To mark the 50th anniversary, all colleagues were invited to company seminars across the country to celebrate all that makes JN Bentley successful Mott MacDonald Executive Chair, James, Harris, said, “Warm congratulations to everyone at JN Bentley on your 50th anniversary. It is a fantastic organisation with its people and clients at its heart. “I look forward to further supporting its growth and development into the future.” Here’s to the next 50 years! Read our commemorative 50th anniversary brochure here: JN Bentley – 50th anniversary brochure- December 2022 - Interested in building your career at JN Bentley? Click here to view all our current opportunities. Find and follow us on socials to keep up-to-date with the latest news from across the business too. LinkedIn, Twitter.

JN Bentley, together with colleagues from Mott MacDonald and JBA Bentley, hosted their first networking event for early career professionals (ECPs), in Birmingham. The day was an opportunity for colleagues to network with fellow ECPs from across the business, meet senior leaders, learn more about the network and engage with key initiatives including STEM and sustainability. Chris Bolton, Technical Excellence Leader, talks us through the day… “The day kicked off with an interactive icebreaker to get our ECPs talking, followed by a Q&A with some of our directors – Paul Bentley, Managing Director; Anne Carroll, Design Director; Nick Fawcett, Design Director and Steve Tetlow, Director. We then had presentations from some of our ECPs on key initiatives, from sustainability and carbon to corporate social responsibility and STEM. “Everyone then enjoyed a pizza and doughnut lunch before splitting into groups for a treasure hunt around Birmingham city centre. To finish the day, we had a presentation from our ECP Network Lead, Ana Farias, on what’s coming up for the network in 2023. “The day was a huge success and a great way to get our ECPs together for networking, collaboration and celebration. I’m already looking forward to next year’s ECP Day.” Our ECP Network spans across the whole business and Mott MacDonald Group. As a global network, it is a means of connecting ECPs to share ideas, knowledge and skills to support their career goals, provide development opportunities and influence the future direction of the business. Investing in early careers has long been part of JN Bentley’s approach to bringing talented people into the business to create a sustainable workforce for the future. We invest over £1million every year in the training and development of our people, supporting them to achieve their goals, reach their potential and build a successful career with us. Interested in building your career at JN Bentley? Click here to view all our current opportunities. Find and follow us on socials to keep up-to-date with the latest news from across the business too. LinkedIn, Twitter.

What do we mean by the term ‘digital’? Rather than simply just a piece of IT or software, digital is the combination of processes, technology, people and information working together to achieve efficiency. Utilising digital construction means to achieve efficiency through the application of those four elements. Those efficiencies don’t just manifest in an optimised construction programme, but branch out to encompass quality, cost, safety and carbon. Digital construction is a broad area, but this article focuses on the use of common data environments (CDE) to share a single source of the truth, and setting out on site with data not drawings, including the use of intelligent machine control; some people might call this 'construction from 3D model data’. Image caption: Digital screen inside the cab of an intelligent excavator Digital screens inside the cabs of intelligent plant at the Komatsu production factory, Durham. The design model is downloaded to the system allowing the operative to visualise the design via the onboard screens and operate the machine exactly to the design. The machine control features help to improve accuracy - auto-stop control, auto grade assist, auto tilt control, minimum distance control and bucket angle hold all mean the operator can safely rely on the system without worrying about digging too deep or damaging the surface. Digital transformation is revolutionising the construction industry and redirecting the project delivery process onto a more sustainable path to the future. Recently, our operational board of directors visited the Komatsu production factory in Durham, to see and hear first-hand how a leading global plant manufacturer – and one of our largest plant suppliers – are developing and delivering innovative solutions for the construction industry. In particular, how intelligent plant is optimising operations, adding value and improving efficiency in project delivery. Image caption: JN Bentley operational board at Komatsu factory visit When we talk about digital construction in JN Bentley/MMB, we’re talking about how we can use digital tools and processes to support the actual construction of our projects. One aspect of this that benefits from digital transformation is getting design information out to sites. Traditionally, we would issue printed drawings with a drawing register and possibly PDF copies too. Instead, by utilising a Common Data Environment (CDE) such as BIM360, all the graphical design data is stored in one place, accessible through the web so everyone involved is working from the same information. Revision information and transmittals are automatically logged, and any technical queries are logged as design issues and assigned to a member of the team, with a deadline to resolve and full audit trail. The site team are able to carry out take-offs directly from the design without requiring specialist CAD software (or getting the scale ruler out!). As-built data can be uploaded back onto the CDE and mark-ups can be digitally integrated with the design, significantly streamlining the completions process. This improves collaboration which is crucial for managing time-constrained or complex capital projects. Using these digital tools to communicate design data is helpful, but what if there was a way of not needing the drawings at all? Our design process is digitally mature, with designs produced in 3D BIM models, from which the 2D drawings are derived from. Digital construction allows us to obtain setting out points directly from the model, increasing time and resource efficiency. Survey instruments can be connected to the CDE through the cloud and design models accessed through those, allowing engineers to fully visualise the design in 3D out on site and to have full ownership of the setting out points . The as-built data that has been surveyed is then uploaded back on to the CDE as the work is completed. Another tool that is being utilised across sites, especially large earthworks projects, is Intelligent Machine Control (IMC). Image caption: Intelligent machine control (IMC) IMC refers to plant and machinery fitted with GNSS receivers and other sensors, allowing the exact location of the blade /bucket to be known against a design model imported into the machine’s system. The operator sees the design on screen and is able to work to complex surfaces without the need for traditional setting out. Key benefits of IMC include: Improved quality and accuracy Reduced requirements for Site Engineers (reduced people-plant interface) Removal of waiting time for Plant Operators who require setting out points from Site Engineers Removal of over digging risk Reduced fuel use and carbon Known below ground services can also be inputted and a no-dig buffer zone set to assist in reducing service strikes On our sites, we encourage teams to complete a digital delivery plan to identify how elements of digital construction might benefit the project and how these can be successfully implemented. - Read more on how we’re embracing digital, including digital construction, in our latest Annual Review (page 36) – read it here. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest news from across the business.

JN Bentley has been awarded Van Excellence Operator status following a recent audit from Logistics UK. With a fleet of over 350 vehicles, comprising of Ford Courier, Transit and 4x4 Rangers this award recognises excellence and helps continually improve our operational standards. At the heart of this scheme are the Van Excellence standards which outline ‘what good looks like’ in terms of van operations with safety and efficiency being at its core. Van Excellence is an award-winning industry-led initiative, developed by Logistics UK alongside some of the UK’s best van operators. The scheme aims to raise standards within the industry, improve the perception of vans and light commercial vehicles and enhance the reputation of organisations operating van fleets. To receive the Van Excellence accreditation, participating organisations’ van operations are subject to an assessment by Logistics UK’s auditors which examine their procedures against The Van Excellence Code. The Code represents the minimum standards required to ensure the safe operation of van fleets. It covers everything from driver licencing, competence and behaviour to vehicles standards, equipment and maintenance. Nicola Wilson, Procurement Manager said: “The scheme has been beneficial for keeping the team focused in terms of managing and maintaining the fleet but it’s also key to our drivers, reinforcing the importance of operating a safe and efficient fleet.” By joining the scheme, JN Bentley is demonstrating its commitment to safer, more efficient and sustainable van operators. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitterto stay up to date with the latest news from around the business.

Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) received three awards at this year’s ICE East Midlands awards gala, all for our project at Stoke Bardolph Thermal Hydrolysis Plant, delivered with Severn Trent Water. The team picked up awards for Large Project of the Year, Team Achievement and Sustainability. Awarded outside of our existing framework agreements with Severn Trent, the new £42m Advanced Anaerobic Digestion facility at Stoke Bardolph turns sewage into biogas that is exported to the gas network and treats the remaining solids so that it meets the highest standards for use as a fertiliser. The aim is to increase the yield and improve the quality of the biogas and cake produced at Stoke Bardolph, products that re-used for power and in agriculture. The team applied our Quality, Cost and Efficiency strategy to see how things could be achieved Right 1st Time, and, with a complex range of mechanical plant, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) was the key. Having key work packages and mechanical items built away from site meant that on-site demolition and civil work could progress at the same time. Packages were then delivered to site for rapid installation, compared to a traditional on-site approach with a lengthy assembly and installation period. The boiler house is a great example of the benefits that MMC brings. We worked with our expert supply chain to learn from previous projects we’ve delivered together. As a result, the boiler house was manufactured, fully assembled and tested off-site, before being separated into modules for delivery and installation at site. The modular design, including the electrical system, used innovative quick-fit connections between sectors. Our approach saved 26 weeks on site. The energy saving features of this plan, together with the sustainable products being produced (gas to grid and class A agricultural fertiliser), make it another in the growing suite of innovative step change projects that the water sector is implementing. The project has also been named a finalist at the British Construction Industry Awards two years running: in 2021 for Industry Transformation and Innovation, and in 2022 for Utility Project of the Year. (L-R) Steve Clarke (STW), James Hopkinson (MMB), Mark Linney (MMB), Eleanor Rycroft (STW), Nick Braithwaite (MMB), Stephen Rooke (MMB), Sam Craig (STW), Jamie Beech (MMB). Don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to stay up to date with all the latest news from around the business.

JN Bentley is set to attend two Career Transition Partnership (CTP) employment fairs for ex-military personnel. JN Bentley is proud to support the UK Armed Services community, and welcomes the wealth of skills, knowledge and experience they bring to our business. JN Bentley will be attending the following events: North – Thursday 22nd September – Leeds | More East Midlands - Thursday 10th November - Newark | More Come and say hello to find out more about opportunities at JN Bentley and how you could build your career with us. - Visit the CTP website to find out more about the Employment Fairs and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest news from around the business.

James Harris, executive chair, Mott MacDonald, comments on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her dedication to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth nations has been unparalleled and she was rightly held in the highest regard and affection by people around the world. On behalf of Mott MacDonald, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family. James Harris, executive chair, Mott MacDonald

Further to the recent announcement confirming JN Bentley as the sole supplier of complex civil engineering works across the north of the Canal & River Trust’s network, the UK based contractor has been appointed to additional contracts with the Trust. The framework will see JN Bentley deliver non-complex civil engineering works such as towpath and access improvements in Yorkshire and the North East and North West of England. Worth up to £300m over ten years, nine parties have been appointed to the new contracts, each working on a regional basis. Coupled with the complex civil engineering contract awarded earlier this month, the frameworks represent some of the largest waterway engineering contracts ever awarded by the Canal & River Trust – the organisation tasked with caring and bringing to life 2,000 miles of canals and river navigations across England & Wales. Jonathan Burton, JN Bentley director, said: “We’re proud to have secured these new frameworks with the Canal & River Trust, off the back of being appointed as their supplier of complex civil engineering projects across the north of England. “We bring a strong track record of safe, sustainable, high quality and innovative delivery to the non-complex contract, with our large directly employed workforce giving us the flexibility needed to carry out schemes of this nature effectively. “In what is JN Bentley’s fiftieth year, we are delighted to celebrate with the addition of an important new client to our portfolio. We look forward to forging a long-term relationship with the Trust and improving the UK’s waterways together.” Contract award follows a thorough 20-month tender period during which JN Bentley demonstrated its civil engineering credentials, evidenced through its experience working with the likes of the Environment Agency and clients across the regulated water sector. Does JN Bentley sound like somewhere you’d like to come and build your career? We have a range of current vacancies – check them out on our careers pages.