Approaching 50 years providing high quality professional engineering services to the built environment - Martyn Headley discusses with BDC

Article posted on: 15 October 2020

With phenomenal change having taken place this year, Martyn Headley, CEO at Clancy Consulting reflects on adapting the business ambitions, and celebrating the success stories, to secure an optimistic outlook as the 50-year celebrations approach. 

Back in October 2019 we were in the midst of developing our strategic plan for the next five years, buoyed by a really positive few years and with 2019/20 looking on course to be our best ever in so many different ways. The general theme was of continuing the success story which has been sustainable growth of a customer-facing organisation which is only as strong as the team. 

Brian Clancy founded the practice back in the early 1970s and, from that day on, the ethos and cultural DNA have remained the only constant, of which we are incredibly proud. From a small office in Altrincham to now offering excellent client services across England and Scotland with approaching 200 skilled providers from 10 offices, this has been a journey that many long serving team members still form the backbone of. 

A full spectrum of professional services are offered across the UK to include Geoenvironmental Appraisals, Civil & Structural Engineering, Highways, Mechanical & Electrical Building Services and many associated disciplines. 

Reflecting on our history, brought into focus the diverse nature of the work we have and continue to deliver across many different environments and sectors, so too how our phenomenal ethos and culture has played its part. It is this that makes Clancy unique in what we stand for and why we have such a fantastic and loyal team across the country. 

Unsurprisingly, it takes something like the current pandemic to come along to really make you appreciate what is important and how the ‘true mettle’ of each and every member of the team has rallied to the cause. 

Across the length and breadth of the country, we bring high level design to every project we are involved with. Our involvement invariably extends from project inception to ‘in use’. We investigate the setting in terms of PrePlanning Services such as Highways, Flood Risk, Drainage strategies, Geoenvironmental issues, utilities appraisals before we embark on detailed design which includes Highways and Civils infrastructure, Structure and Building Services. 

Many of our projects are at the forefront of technology; the Tata Chemicals Europe Carbon Capture and Utilisation demonstration plant we are working on is a truly innovative project which supports the Government's Clean Growth Strategy.  Currently the largest of its kind on site in the UK, it will be the world's first plant to capture and purify carbon dioxide from power generation plant emissions and use the captured gas as a key raw material in a manufacturing process. 

From ‘world-firsts’ to bespoke technical solutions. 

An exciting new arts and cultural venue in Manchester, The Factory, has required truly specialist expertise as the surrounding site presents a number of vibration and acoustic challenges to overcome; namely eight railways lines, two high rise towers and two major A roads. Our structural team has worked with Farrat to design anti-vibration and acoustic isolation solutions, with Farrat exclusively manufacturing the acoustic bearings for the project.  The combination of Clancy’s bespoke structural design input, coupled with Farrat’s technical expertise in the design and supply of antivibration and acoustic provisions, means we jointly provide a niche and uniquely high value offer, vital to the overall success on many projects where we collaborate with Farrat. 

Elsewhere, our multidisciplinary service offer to Net Zero Buildings, is assisting them to become market leaders in the emerging MMC market advancing prefabrication and the zero carbon agenda. 

What lies ahead, particularly given widespread changes over the last eight months (and the coming months!), will inevitably be accelerated change. For Clancy, whilst there have been many questions asked, Team Clancy has responded positively at every turn. Armed with the total commitment and support of our longstanding industry colleagues, we are perfectly poised to continue the journey. 

A good deal of soul searching has taken place by everyone, not just at Clancy, but across the industry and community at large. I am sure societal changes for the better will result. Our commitment to continued growth, providing the platform by empowerment with support for individuals to flourish remains our raison d’etre. 

We are advancing with our technical expertise on so many fronts not only to ‘future proof’ the business, but to make sure we are the beacon others aspire to. Brian Clancy would have had it no other way so thank you Brian for setting the scene. We’ll pop the champagne corks in 2022 to mark the 50 years and launch the next 50. 

It goes without saying we want to share our exciting journey with others so, if we can assist, please do make contact

To read the full article in BDC Magazine on pages 98-99 click here

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