Joshua Richards

As deputy utilities coordinator for Balfour Beatty, I lead the coordination of utilities activities across one of the UK’s busiest strategic road networks, ensuring all works are planned, permitted, and delivered safely. I oversee the full permit life cycle, including creation, authorisation, auditing, and compliance monitoring, maintaining high standards across all utility interfaces. I additionally serve as a key health and safety advocate on the ground, ensuring GS7, HSG46, and organisational safety requirements are consistently applied to protect people, assets, and infrastructure. Daily, I undertake site surveys, service tracing, and verification of existing records to support accurate planning and reduce risk during excavation and construction while collaborating closely with asset owners, statutory undertakers, designers, and operational teams to coordinate works, resolve clashes, and maintain programme efficiency, often providing innovative solutions for constrained work zones and high‑risk areas, balancing safety, operational needs, and project delivery requirements.

Throughout the course of the last 10 years, I have been a Self-Employed Bricklayer , working across the South West. I have been preparing, setting out services and connecting services within groundworks. Within the private sector, I have disconnected, removed and replaces old and new services.

Working alongside a plethora of companies;

G A Doble and subcontracted to;

T Davis Building Tonic

Richard Barnes Building Tithegrove

MJ Brickwork MJ Evans

Dunsford Substructures

Prime Renovation

While working alongside other bricklayers and collaborating with all areas within the building trade, I have retained information, adapted and improved my own technique and encouraged others to excel in their fields. I have learned how to effectively manage large-scale projects within a time limit, delegated efficiently and maintaining appropriate safety measures throughout.

During my apprenticeship, I learned how to bricklay to a perfect industry standard that stayed with me throughout my career. I studied health and safety, how to lead and maintain a project and how to work efficiently and effectively within a team.

Some of the basic tasks of each day are as follows:

-Building brick retaining walls that increased the stability of the surrounding land.

-Constructed brick walls that met building code requirements and provided adequate sound insulation

-Completed repairs to its original condition, ensuring that the structure remained safe and secure