Secondment spotlight – Jake Berry inspects flood defences

Jake Berry is an Assistant Flood Risk Engineer who is currently seconded to Atkins. For the last six months, he has been inspecting flood defences as part of his secondment. Here he tells us what he has enjoyed and why it’s been such a great experience:

“I’ve been working for Atkins on the Collaborative Delivery Framework (CDF) as an asset inspector, inspecting flood defences across Suffolk, Hertfordshire and North London. These inspections are carried out all across the country by lots of other inspectors as well.

It’s important all the assets are inspected across the year as it helps the Environment Agency identify any that are Below Required Condition and look at opportunities to prioritise repairs to these assets.

It’s not just looking at the big assets – the inspections look at all those on their asset register, from the smallest culvert in the middle of a farmer’s field, to more significant major Civils works likes radial gates and reservoir structures.

The thing I’ve enjoyed the most is the opportunity to visit a new place and explore new places whilst inspecting these assets. My knowledge of assets and inspections has come on leaps and bounds as a result of this secondment. It’s been a great experience which I’ve enjoyed but I’m also happy to be back in Yorkshire now!”

Here are just a few of the scenic locations Jake’s secondment has taken him to:

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