Jack Barrow, Project Structural Engineer, is helping shape the future of structural engineering practice through his role on the Institution of Structural Engineers (IstructE) Business Practice & Regulatory Control Committee.
This influential panel focuses on the big-picture issues that affect how structural engineering firms operate, from navigating regulatory frameworks to driving sustainable business strategies. Jack’s involvement on the committee not only highlights his personal expertise, but also underscores our commitment to industry leadership at every level of our organisation.
The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) is the world’s largest professional body dedicated to structural engineering, with a global membership of around 30,000 practitioners. Founded over a century ago, IStructE upholds engineering standards, shares knowledge, and provides a voice for the structural engineering profession. From publishing technical guidance and a monthly magazine The Structural Engineer, to offering training and accreditation, IStructE’s core mission is to support engineers in designing safe, innovative, and sustainable structures worldwide.
Within IStructE, the Business Practice & Regulatory Control Committee plays a key role in steering the Institution’s technical strategy on business and regulatory matters. In essence, this committee tackles issues that directly impact how structural design practices are run. Working closely with IStructE’s Engineering Leadership Group, it helps determine strategic priorities for supporting members, deciding how, where, and when to provide resources, training, and events that benefit structural engineering firms.
Core focus areas for the Business Practice & Regulatory Control Committee include:
Additionally, the committee provides direction and governance to several specialist panels associated with IStructE, ensuring a coordinated approach to emerging challenges. These associated panels include the BIM Panel (focusing on digital design and Building Information Modelling innovation), the Ethics Panel (promoting high standards of professional conduct), and the Small Practitioners Panel (addressing the needs of smaller engineering consultancies). By overseeing these panels, the committee helps integrate their insights, from technological advancements to ethical best practices, into broader business guidance for the profession.
Jack Barrow’s involvement in this IStructE committee is a testament to his forward-thinking approach and dedication to the profession. As a Project Structural Engineer at Brookbanks, Jack brings hands-on project experience and fresh insights to the table. In his committee role, he collaborates with industry peers from various backgrounds to share knowledge and develop guidance that benefits structural engineers and their businesses across the board.
Notably, IStructE designs its committees to represent a diversity of perspectives, including voices from different career stages and company sizes. It’s not just seasoned directors who contribute; the committee’s membership also features younger engineers and those from small practices, ensuring a well-rounded view of industry needs. Jack’s involvement, even at a relatively early stage in his career, highlights how emerging leaders at Brookbanks are influencing the direction of their field. His seat at the table demonstrates that expertise and leadership we aim to encourage at all levels, not only among our senior management.
One of the most critical topics the Business Practice & Regulatory Control Committee is focusing on is the climate emergency and how structural engineering businesses can respond to it. The construction and engineering sector today faces intense pressure to reduce environmental impacts, and structural engineers have a pivotal role to play. In 2019, IStructE itself formally declared that sustainability and the climate emergency must be treated with equal priority to life safety in engineering design. This marked a watershed moment, recognising that tackling climate change is as fundamental as ensuring buildings are safe.
Within the committee, Jack and other panel members are helping to drive sustainability strategies for engineering practices. This involves developing practical resources and recommendations so that firms of all sizes can integrate climate considerations into their business models and projects. A key emphasis is on reducing the carbon footprint of structures, for example, by encouraging the use of low-carbon materials and designing for efficiency over a building’s full lifecycle. Structural engineers are now increasingly measuring and minimising embodied carbon (the total greenhouse gas emissions of materials and construction) alongside traditional concerns like cost and safety. IStructE provides tools and guidance on this front (such as carbon calculation guides and the Structural Carbon Tool), reflecting the profession’s determination to cut emissions in line with national and global climate goals.
Some strategies being promoted for structural engineering practices to combat climate change include:
By sharing and promoting these kinds of approaches, the committee is equipping industry professionals with the knowledge to turn climate concern into concrete action. Jack’s position on the panel enables him to both contribute to and learn from these cutting-edge discussions. He can bring back the latest ideas on sustainable practice to Brookbanks, benefitting our client and ensuring our projects align with the evolving best practices in sustainability.
Jack Barrow’s involvement with IStructE’s Business Practice & Regulatory Control Committee illustrates our ethos of contributing to the broader industry dialogue. We are proud that our experts are not only delivering excellent work on projects, but are also actively helping to shape the future of the profession. Jack’s position on this panel demonstrates our passion to ensure that innovation and thought leadership thrive at every level of our team, from project engineers to senior directors.
By engaging in initiatives like this IStructE committee, we stay at the forefront of industry developments. Our clients and partners can trust that we are abreast of the latest regulatory changes, sustainability strategies, and best business practices in structural engineering. Whether it’s adapting to new building safety regulations or championing climate-conscious design, our team members are leading the way. Jack’s contributions on the panel will ultimately inform how we run our practice and execute projects, translating into improved services and forward-looking solutions for our clients.
In summary, participation in esteemed industry groups such as IStructE’s Business Practice & Regulatory Control Committee reinforces our commitment to excellence and leadership. It ensures that we don’t just react to changes in our field, we help drive those changes. With talented engineers like Jack Barrow representing us on the front lines of professional innovation, we are well-positioned to continue delivering engineering solutions that are not only technically outstanding but also aligned with the future needs of our society and planet.
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