RSK specialists influencing future engineers, planners and environmental professionals at 12 UK universities

Industry advisory boards bring together employers, professional bodies, alumni and academic staff to provide independent guidance on the relevance and development of university courses.

Across RSK Group, 11 individuals work with 12 UK universities and colleges in 9 different disciplines to shape graduates’ practical skills and bridge gaps in academic learning versus workplace environments.

These collaborative relationships enable universities to gain direct access to industry expertise, market intelligence and employment trends, while the participating organisations gain a platform to support talent development, raise their profile and help shape a future workforce equipped to meet the needs of the profession.

RSK Group Higher Education Engagement Manager Joanne McCarthy explained: “Across the group, colleagues are actively contributing to university industry advisory boards, and it’s widely recognised how important these can be in strengthening our relationships with universities. They give us a valuable opportunity to share insights from our businesses and the sectors we work in and help us to influence the skills and knowledge being developed in the next generation of graduates. They can also support our talent pipelines by helping us to connect more effectively with students to ensure we attract graduates whose interests and capabilities align with RSK’s roles.

“By collaborating across a broad range of disciplines, colleagues are championing the best of emerging talent and helping the next generation of engineers, consultants and planners prepare for the modern workplace.”

Across the business, colleagues engaged in industry advisory boards represent diverse disciplines, including:

• landscape architecture
• geotechnical engineering and remediation
• carbon capture
• environmental and town planning
• civil engineering
• structural engineering
• Earth sciences
• environmental management
• the built environment.

Colleagues across the organisation have become involved with universities through many different avenues and all believe strongly in the impact their contribution brings to institutions.

RSK Environment Operations Director Duncan White has been involved with the University of the West of England since he graduated in 2011. Duncan said: “I have been involved with the MSc environmental consulting course at the University of the West of England as a student, as an alum and now as a member of the advisory board, as part of the industry steering committee and by giving guest lectures on environmental impact assessment (EIA) to students.

“A key element of this course is the industry placement, and RSK has facilitated a number of these for students. Today, we still have staff in the business who began working with us after completion of their studies. The steering committee meets twice a year and is drawn from members of environmental consultancy organisations and often also alumni of the course, like me. We discuss current trends in the sector and check that the course content and modules being taught are applicable to the commercial world, not just academia.”

Since 2022, MWH Treatment Head of Digital Delivery Clare Taylor has been part of Aston University’s mechanical, biomedical and design engineering programmes advisory board. Clare said: “The opportunity arose through my professional network within the engineering sector and it provided a valuable platform to collaborate closely with the academic board in reviewing the syllabus. Drawing on my industry experience, we identified several gaps between academic learning and the practical skills often required of graduates entering the workforce. Our recommendations were subsequently incorporated into the programme for the following academic year, ensuring the curriculum remained relevant and aligned with evolving industry needs.

“In addition to shaping the syllabus, the advisory board acted as the judging panel for final-year student projects. We reviewed and assessed each student’s design proposal before collectively selecting the winners and highly commended entries. It was inspiring to witness the creativity, innovation and fresh perspectives demonstrated by the students, whose unconstrained thinking often challenged conventional approaches. It highlighted the potential of the next generation of engineers.”

Pellings Senior Associate Andrew Thompson has been involved with the University of West London since 2011, when he studied for a postgraduate certificate in teaching and learning in higher education and earned his fellowship at the Higher Education Academy. Andrew said: “There have been many opportunities to get involved and have an impact through the advisory board at the University of West London, including assisting academic staff with research grants, course development and accreditations, mentoring, continuing professional development events and career presentations, as well as being the voice of industry to help develop courses.

“I have been part of the team creating the University of West London BSc (Hons) building surveying course, developing the course and gaining Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accreditation, as well as mentoring students towards membership of RICS. I am currently working with the academic team to create a new clerk of the works course, which will further support career growth of graduates.”

As increasing emphasis is placed on aligning education with employment, including through government ambitions such as the post-16 education and skills white paper, ensuring school leavers and graduates alike are equipped with the skills they need to progress in meaningful careers will require close collaboration with institutions and industry. Education providers and employers, including RSK, are playing an important role in shaping the future workforce through initiatives such as industry advisory boards, which offer a forum for discussion on how to equip graduates with these critical skills in what is a rapidly evolving modern workplace.