Smith Brothers extends design offering with appointment of specialist team

Bringing over 90 years’ combined industry experience to the firm – acquired through senior roles within Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) as well as construction, electrical and civils companies – the four designers are senior design manager and principal electrical engineer Richard Furniss, civil design manager Steve Sadler, primary electrical design engineer Lee Newheiser, and protection and control design engineer Cat Lucas.

Possessing a wealth of expertise within CAD, primary electrical, network, civil and structural design, the team will be responsible for overseeing Smith Brothers’ power system design provision – covering feasibility studies along with the design of cable systems, connections to HV and EHV OHL systems, protection and control systems, and substations.
The new recruits will be operating from the dedicated premises at Parkway Avenue in Sheffield, which has further space to accommodate four additional engineers. Recruitment to support Smith Brothers’ growing design capability is therefore set to continue in the coming months.

Commenting on the appointment, operations director Craig Collinson said: “Clients are increasingly enlisting us for complex connection projects that require extensive studies and specialist design skills – including civil and structural alongside core electrical. We’ve had a marked upsurge in such enquires, with the number of quotes for large-scale projects over the 2017-18 period up 122% on the previous year.

“We’ve therefore been on the lookout for the right design team to bolster our in-house capabilities for some time, so we’re delighted to be welcoming Richard, Cat, Lee and Steve on board. Between them they have an unparalleled level of technical know-how and expertise, which we’re sure will greatly enhance our design offering and overall service to clients.”

Richard Furniss elaborated: “It’s certainly an exciting time to be joining Smith Brothers. The company’s reputation within the industry has undoubtedly been building over the past few years, and along with the rest of the new division, I’m looking forward to playing a significant role in expanding its design remit.”

Established in 1999 by brothers Richard and John Smith, the award-winning Elland-headquartered firm a leading Independent Connection Provider (ICP), delivering turnkey projects to clients across the renewable energy, utility, industrial and commercial sectors. Operating throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland, Smith Brothers works with a variety of blue-chip clients across an array of sectors, including Kellogg’s, Jaguar Land Rover and United Utilities, to name just a few.

With ongoing recruitment opportunities available for both office-based and operative roles, details of current vacancies at the company’s Elland, Sheffield and Dublin premises can be found via the Smith Brothers website or LinkedIn page.