Richard Brooks, seen above with Derek Butler and Russell Cooper of Rochester Bridge Trust which established this Award, is Technical Director and National Service Lead for Civil Structures at Waterman Group. He has acted as Supervising Civil Engineer or primary sponsor to ten engineers working towards professional development qualifications. He also engages in career development activities at local schools and colleges.

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield in 1997, Richard immediately joined Waterman Group. He was awarded Fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers earlier this year and has worked on a number of prestigious projects, both in the design office and on site. As a bridge and temporary works designer he has designed a variety of integral bridges and worked on the Royal Woolwich Arsenal Crossrail box and The Star and Garter redevelopment.

The judges were impressed by Richard’s approach to mentoring, which was embedded within the day-to-day working practices of his team, improving project quality and outcomes as a whole, rather than viewing mentoring as a standalone activity. He is clearly passionate about the growth and success of his mentees, and demonstrated the value he places on inter-personal professional relationships and providing constructive, positive feedback to motivate others.

Richard considers mentoring to be a perk of his role, and is a great believer in ownership and responsibility so that everyone can feel their worth as part of the team and engineering as a whole.

The Phil Tindall Memorial Medal is an award for mentoring, designed to recognise the efforts of civil engineers who share knowledge and support newcomers to the career. The medal is awarded to those who have been particularly successful in mentoring civil engineers during the first ten years of their careers, helping them to develop skills, expertise and confidence. The award was launched in 2023 and is presented in alternate years annually by the Worshipful Company of Engineers on behalf of the Rochester Bridge Trust, in memory of Phil Tindall, a civil engineer who inspired many young engineers during his 40-year career. The Trust is a medieval charity responsible for providing crossings of the River Medway in Kent. In addition, it facilitates and provides engineering education for people of all ages, to support the bridge builders of the future.

The Worshipful Company of Engineers Charitable Trust (the Engineers Trust) acknowledges excellence in engineering, supports engineering education and research, gives grants and assists in the relief of poverty. 

Read more about Richard and the Award here: https://rbt.org.uk/2023/mentoring-medal-presented-to-first-winner/