People

ENGAGEMENT SURVEY

Helping shape our people strategy are the results of our engagement surveys. 79% of colleagues participated in 2025 (up from 74% in 2023) with our engagement score of 76% increasing from 72% in 2023. This engagement score places us well above the UK average of 58% and comfortably inside the top quartile.

It was pleasing to see over 70% of our site-based workforce participate, with 90% of colleagues proud to work for the organisation; 80% feeling motivated by our values; and 77% comfortable discussing wellbeing with their manager.

Work has already begun to identify improvement areas, which include recognition and career development. Focus groups will help us drill down into the detail of these key themes. We’re excited to see where this work takes us as we build an even stronger workplace.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

In recent years we have curated an important package of mental health and wellbeing support. This includes mental health awareness training, a team of wellbeing champions, and partnerships with experts like the Lighthouse Charity. As part of their #MakeItVisible tour, the Lighthouse Charity visited nine of our sites and engaged with 210 colleagues in 2025. They also attended additional sites as part of their critical response service, where they supported our clients and wider supply chain too.

We also began targeted interventions on larger projects. At Wilton, our in-house HR and wellbeing team visited regularly, and we've hosted the 'Never Throw in the Towel' project where free haircuts are coupled with conversations about mental health.

Our ongoing wellbeing campaigns signposted colleagues to the right places to seek help. This includes access to counselling and coaching from the Lighthouse Charity, our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP - Westfield Health/CiC), and Able Futures.

BUILDING CAREERS

By recruiting from a diverse range of backgrounds and then investing in every employee, we’ve created a great environment in which to build a career.

Our early career professionals (ECP) network made up of JN Bentley and Mott MacDonald colleagues is a progressive, self-sustaining community connecting employees in the first ten years of their careers. The annual ECP Day brought together over 100 colleagues to share perspectives, tackle activities and quiz the directors.

Our development programmes for graduates and apprentices, managers, and senior leaders continued to evolve. We’ve built a clear pathway linking one to the next, with input from performance psychologist experts, Mindflick.

Supporting colleagues to achieve professional qualifications is another important development pathway. This includes Charterships, with 39 colleagues achieving Chartership status in 2025. Professional bodies included the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

KEY SKILLS AND TRAINING

With such a significant volume of work to deliver, the country faces a major shortage in key construction skills. With a large directly employed construction workforce (812 in 2025), we’re taking action to address the shortage. This includes our three-module upskilling course covering core construction skills, developed and delivered with supply chain partners.

2025 also saw us complete our latest Skills Bootcamp, which provided free dedicated training to those new to the industry. In 2025 we trained 78 external delegates – some of whom have gone on to start careers with us or elsewhere in the industry.

SHAPED BY ALL, SHARED BY ALL

We celebrated a major milestone across Mott MacDonald Group as employee ownership was broadened to encompass all staff. Introduced at roadshows across the UK, the unique model gives people a stake in the success of the business through a profit-share bonus, and a voice in shaping its future. The introduction of the new model is in addition to our long-standing MMBC bonus scheme.

In 2026, we'll begin to address the findings from the engagement survey, making improvements that will help build on what we prove year-on-year: that this is a fantastic place to work.

MEET...

DAVE

SARAH

HOLLY

JAS

GEMMA

OLI

DAVE
^{SITE AGENT}

"I never thought I’d work here for 50 years when I started as an apprentice joiner in 1975. I’ve seen lots of changes through the years - and I hope JN Bentley keeps growing, succeeding and turning out high-quality jobs. Whilst the water sector is still the core of the business, expansion into other markets is exciting."

Joining the company in 1975, David started his career at JN Bentley as an apprentice joiner. The first project he plied his trade on was Elslack Freshwater Treatment Works, installing steel filters to improve drinking water in the area. From this first role, he moved into work as a foreman and finally becoming one of the leading site agents on our Yorkshire Water framework.

David has been a key part of many project successes over the years. However, one standout scheme was Gargrave Sewage Treatment Works (STW) in 2023, which was part of the Storm Spill Reduction Programme. The project - which was the first of its kind in the region - aimed to treat sewage before it entered the River Aire. What made it stand out was the culmination of years of skill, knowledge and best practice all being put into one job. The result: a neat, compliant and profitable job, delivering a positive environmental outcome for the region.

Beyond projects, David has contributed to the growth of the business including championing the company’s growing safety culture and developing relationships with clients in the water sector. Looking ahead, David expects JNB to keep growing, succeeding and turning out high-quality jobs with the water sector remaining the core of the business.

SARAH
^{CIVIL ENGINEER AND FORMER APPRENTICE}

"My journey began as an apprentice in Yorkshire but I’ve since moved to our new framework with South West Water. Construction is a hugely positive industry. My passion comes from the fact that no two days are ever the same."

Sarah began her journey with JN Bentley in 2023, joining the business as a Level 4 Apprentice Civil Engineer. She quickly integrated into our Yorkshire Water framework team, while also becoming one of the very first apprentices to join JNB’s Early Careers Development Programme.

Like all JNB apprentices, Sarah’s development journey began with the support of a mentor, to guide her learning and professional growth. Based on our Esholt IED scheme - a major upgrade project for Yorkshire Water - she rapidly took on responsibility, managing concrete logistics and pours across the anaerobic digestion phase of the scheme. Alongside this, Sarah adopted a proactive approach to safety, utilising a vacuum excavator rather than alternative plant to help manage the movement of people and equipment while working within a high regulated explosive atmosphere (EX zone).

When reflecting on her experience as a woman in construction, Sarah described it as being ‘eye-opening and hugely positive’, with the ‘no two days are the same’ nature of an engineer being something which drives her passion for the role.

Following the successful completion of her Level 4 qualification, Sarah’s next step in her career has taken her to Bournemouth, where she has joined our South West Water team who are gearing up for a string of AMP8 projects, including Ratfyn water recycling centre, where she is completing ongoing investigation works.

HOLLY
^{SKILLED OPERATIVE}

I’m proud to challenge gender stereotypes: this is reflected in my career path, with my first role in military - where I became the first female well driller in the UK - to working in the construction industry, where I was one of the first women ‘on the ground’ at JN Bentley.

Before a career in construction, Holly joined the Royal Engineers, first as a specialist driver before taking an interest in borehole drilling, leading to a well driller role while in the military. On the achievement of her Land Drilling NVQ, Holly was officially named as the first female well driller in the UK.

Starting out her journey at JN Bentley as a general operative in 2022, Holly joined our site teams in the Midlands, taking several development opportunities, becoming a qualified operator of several machines on site, including telehandlers, excavators and rollers - before progressing into a skilled operative role.

Working on our Ragdale pumping station scheme, Holly specialises in supporting teams by digging trenches, laying pipework or whatever the job requires, all while fighting against adverse weather conditions to ensure the successful delivery of phase 2 of the scheme.

When asked what motivates her, it was difficult to pin down one answer. She highlighted her passion for her role and a love of the outdoors. However, she wants to continue to pave the way for females entering the industry and when looking to the future, hopes that the number of females pursuing site-based careers continues to grow. And, for any woman who is considering a site career, Holly’s advice is ‘just go for it’.

JAS
^{COMMERCIAL MANAGER AND MENTOR}

"I joined the business as a placement student during my university studies. I now provide commercial leadership in the safe and efficient delivery of projects, securing strong outcomes and long‑term value for our clients. I am also committed to developing our people, mentoring junior team members to build confidence, capability and high‑performing teams."

Joining the business in 2015, Jasdeep began his career as a year-out placement student on our Yorkshire Water framework while completing his degree in quantity surveying, re-joining the team the following year as a graduate quantity surveyor.

Quickly progressing through the ranks, first as a lead quantity surveyor before promotion to a commercial manager in 2021, Jasdeep took the opportunity to develop his skills and experience across a range of client areas. Initially he worked within Yorkshire Water before moving into the non-water sector - delivering work for clients including Cadent Gas, Rolls-Royce and the Mining Remediation Authority, being directly involved in numerous infrastructure, non-infrastructure and complex civils projects.

Asked if there is one project which stands out for him, he chose Swinsty Reservoir, Harrogate. The scheme involved the construction of a new, deeper spillway channel and it lives long in the memory thanks to it setting a benchmark for collaboration, delivering the scheme safely, on time and in budget - resulting in happy stakeholders and a positive outcome.

Beyond project delivery, Jasdeep has played an active role in developing others. With a strong passion for mentorship, he has spent several years supporting year one and two quantity surveyors, helping to build their confidence, capability and commercial awareness, and seeing many go on to become his peers.

Looking ahead, Jasdeep believes the business’s design-and-build approach, and embedded culture of continuous improvement, will continue to drive more efficient solutions while further enhancing health and safety standards.

GEMMA
^{MECHANICAL ENGINEER}

"I’m motivated by the fact the work we are doing will help protect the environment. It’s exciting that the scale and complexity of projects we were delivering five years ago are considered small today."

Gemma began her career at Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) as a placement student amidst the third COVID lockdown. After graduating, Gemma re-joined the team as a project leader, being responsible for a £5m section of our £25m Roundhill scheme, involving the design, planning and coordination of a primary sludge thickening plant.

Following the successful completion of the project, Gemma’s impact was recognised at the 2024 Water Equipment Show, taking home the ‘Young Professional Engineer Award’, despite only being 18 months into her career.

A passion for STEM has also played a key role in Gemma’s career. Crediting her STEM background – being the third generation of engineer in her family – and following a mantra of ‘if children can’t see it, they can’t be it’, she has driven initiatives in the Midlands region, furthering a long-standing relationship with the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) to mentor groups of Year 12 students, and delivering interactive sessions at local schools and Scout groups.

These efforts did not go unnoticed, with Gemma and the STEM team’s dedication, passion and drive recognised at the 2025 Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Midlands awards, winning the ‘Education and Inspiration Award’.

Now a mechanical engineer working on our large scheme at Lichfield. Gemma credits her resilience for her success and is focused on bringing the scheme to life as it enters the construction phase.

OLI
^{DIGITAL DELIVERY ADVISOR}

"Starting my career as a site engineer, I’ve since moved into a role in the support team. This means I’m able to work on company-wide digital initiatives, while maintaining a strong connection to live projects. Improving efficiency and reducing errors so we get things right first time are major drivers for me."

Starting out his career at JN Bentley back in 2014, Oli joined the team as a site engineer, where his first project was improving resilience of the Yorkshire Water network at Scotton Rising Main. Progressing to project leader and finally, site manager, Oli built up a strong operational background, before taking the opportunity to join our growing digital delivery team.

Situated within the company's Support Unit, while still firmly embedded in the operational side of the business, the move to the digital delivery team has provided the opportunity to work on company and unit-wide digital initiatives, while maintaining a strong connection to live projects.

One standout initiative is his work introducing 4D construction rehearsal tools, enabling teams to visualise and rehearse planned works, validate construction sequencing, and clearly communicate proposals to clients. Another evolving core project is the Digital Delivery Hub – an internally accessible space bringing together guidance, shared knowledge, and the practical application of digital solutions.

When asked what skill he carried across from an operational role into support, Oli highlighted ‘attention to detail’ as key. Working closely with BIM technicians, he applies this skill to bring practical operational context, ensuring models and data are structured to support construction, intelligent machine control and digital setting out.