National engineering consultancy Rodgers Leask has expanded the multi-disciplinary offering in its Bristol office with the appointment of principal structural engineer Tom Holmes.
The firm, which has been involved in a number of largescale projects in the South West since opening an office in the region nine years ago, said Tom, pictured, had significantly strengthened its local presence and reinforced its regional growth strategy. 
He has a wealth of structural engineering expertise and experience in low to high-rise building design, Passivhaus and modern and traditional methods of construction.
And with a lifelong passion for structural design, he once held the Guinness World Record for the tallest tower of dominoes, stacking them to an impressive height of 5.275m.
Tom previously spent 18 years with international engineering consultancy Arup after joining it from university, including working on major projects such as Bristol Beacon and the Leadenhall Building – better known as The Cheesegrater – in London.
Rodgers Leask’s base at Aztec West, which opened in 2018, has achieved steady growth over recent years, working on major projects such as the Access 18 scheme on the site of the former Avonmouth smelting plant and the billion-pound regeneration of the former Llanwern steelworks site.
Tom’s arrival not only boosts the team’s capacity to deliver on complex structural projects but will also plays a critical role in the company’s commitment to driving growth in the region.
Bristol regional director Dave Bathurst said his structural engineering capability complemented the office’s existing civil engineering, geo-environmental engineering and transport planning offerings and enabled it to provide multi-disciplinary support for commercial, domestic and refurbishment projects.
“We were pleased to welcome Tom to the now 16-strong team and are already seeing the positive impact of his expertise on our Bristol office’s multi-disciplinary capabilities,” he added.
“His approach aligns well with our commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative engineering solutions.
“Tom has been particularly pivotal in our recent canal restoration work, looking at the structural design of retaining walls for an aqueduct.
“Without this expanded capacity, the work would have been outsourced to another Rodgers Leask office.
“Having the structural offering in Bristol has allowed us to operate more efficiently and provides a learning environment for the team to gain more insight into the structural design process.”
He said the Bristol office was better positioned than ever to meet the needs of its clients across the region and would continue to set a benchmark for excellence in the industry.
Tom added: “Joining Rodgers Leask has provided a fantastic opportunity to bring my structural design expertise to the talented and growing team here in Bristol.
“The range of projects I’ve worked on so far, including a multi-disciplinary government project, residential development, industrial warehouses and canal restoration, has been incredibly rewarding.
“I’m focused on driving business growth, securing new projects and consistently delivering high-quality work for our customers.
“I’m also ready for the new challenge of taking on the responsibility of leading a team, and fostering a positive culture where the professional development of the team is supported as we continue to expand our offering to the South West.”
Established in Derby almost 40 years ago. Rodgers Leask has five offices across the UK providing civil, structural, traffic and transport and geo-environmental services to clients nationwide.
