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A Decade of Warrington: Celebrating 10 Years of Projects & Progress

A Decade of Warrington: Celebrating 10 Years of Projects & Progress

As Wallace Whittle hits 60 years, another milestone unfolds in the North West of England. Within the journey of our company, the Warrington Office marks a decade of unwavering dedication & impactful projects.


With over 10 years’ worth of projects, designs and dedication, our Warrington office has created an impression and continues to contribute to the ongoing presence of Wallace Whittle within the North West of England. To mark this occasion, we sat down with Paul Dean, Location Director of our Warrington & Manchester Offices, to reflect on the decade journey that has shaped not only the office in Warrington but the landscape of engineering within the region.

Paul Dean, Director of Warrington & Manchester

To truly understand Warrington’s 10-year journey of success, we spoke directly with Paul Dean, the driving force behind the office’s growth. Paul’s path into engineering goes beyond professional milestones—it’s a story shaped by early influences from family and education that laid the groundwork for his career. Reflecting on those formative years, Paul shared:

“I wasn’t particularly keen on school, and at 16, I left and started an apprenticeship as an electrician, whilst attending college on a day release basis. College was different – I enjoyed it and that’s where things really started to take off. In total, I spent 12 years in education, from leaving school to graduating with my part-time Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Central Lancashire at 28. 

I became an engineer for several reasons, but the initial interest came from the influence of my family. My father was an engineer, so it was just natural for me to be drawn to it.”

Since the age of 28, Paul has built a strong reputation as an accomplished electrical engineer, working across diverse sectors throughout the UK and abroad. His career has included roles with respected firms like Haden, ARUP, Hoare Lea, and AMEC. In 2012, drawn by the potential for career growth and the chance to open a new office, Paul made a significant move by joining Wallace Whittle as Location Director.

“I had the opportunity to build a new location, which was special. It was the chance to open an office and recruit a team from scratch. Allowing us to identify ourselves within the industry and the northwest of England.”

The Warrington Office was established in 2014 and has since experienced significant growth in staff and space, all whilst showcasing a distinguished project portfolio. Expanding to over 22 team members who work across various sectors—including Healthcare, Industrial, Residential, PBSAs, Life Sciences, Data Centres, Leisure & Hotel, and Commercial—has been no small feat. Warrington has not only built a strong workforce but also successfully retained motivated staff while training and developing new talent.

“It’s been a monumental achievement maintaining a reputation of ‘quality of product’ and ‘quality of service’, and all the details that lead up to those accomplishments have been key milestones in themselves, to me and the entire team here. Also, the fact that there has been such a growth in staff that we have trained, educated, and promoted internally. We value our team and their development; whether it is existing staff through the Wallace Whittle Academy or taking on apprentices and supporting them with their future education and journey through funded college or university.”

Leadership

The Warrington office’s success can be attributed to many factors, both internal and external, but Paul’s leadership has played a significant part. Characterised by a hands-on and supportive approach, his leadership has been the driving force behind a decade of continuous staff engagement and motivation. Through large-scale projects, technological advancements, and the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic, his leadership has proven instrumental.

Rooted in technical knowledge, Paul’s leadership style shapes and underpins the work he oversees, ensuring he can be client-focused while the office runs smoothly.

“My management skills have developed over the years. I’ve found myself being much more strategic. The development and progression of the staff in the office allows me to concentrate a lot more on the wider business, the development of staff and business development. I still like to remain hands-on though. I know about all our projects via weekly meetings with the management team, and I maintain direct contact and dialogue with all our clients.”

While Paul’s leadership style has evolved over the past decade, the entire industry has undergone significant transformation, driven by advancements in technology and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As new technologies and regulations emerge, adaptability has become essential. The Warrington Team embraces these changes as opportunities for growth. Through ongoing training and regular CPD sessions, they ensure their work remains industry leading.

“From CAD to BIM, most of our engineers are all conversant and draw straight to screen in Revit, prior to the work undergoing its QA check by the senior BIM team. We now have six or seven dedicated technicians in the office, who are fully conversant with Revit and BIM and collaborate across the whole design team, which just goes to show the nature of how we continue to push the boundaries of traditional engineering into a more technologically advanced system.”

Collaboration and Staff

With Paul shedding light on the importance of collaboration within the office, we briefly discussed how the collaborative culture is not only promoted but cultivated. With Warrington being a tight-knit team, there are many opportunities for social gatherings and frequent correspondence regarding projects and important topics.

Weekly meetings with the management team serve as a platform not only for discussing projects and internal communications but also for reinforcing the sense of unity within the office.  As the WO utilises hybrid working, like much of the industry, this allows for staff flexibility. The office in Warrington has managed to reap the benefits of hybrid working by creating opportunities for team bonding beyond work tasks. Whether it’s through charity fundraisers or office-wide social events, this means the BIM, Sustainability, Mechanical, and Electrical teams can come together and not only deliver strong teamwork on projects but also cultivate a strong team bond. When asked, Paul explained

“I always think it’s the little things that matter. Don’t get me wrong, we do the big social nights out, but we also do personal things as an office. As examples, we head up to Manchester or Liverpool for social nights, or we will have a themed day in the office and charity events such as the Macmillan cake & coffee mornings. It’s the little things that help with team morale.”

Some of our Warrington Team at their charity coffee morning.

Challenges

Aside from the moments shared over coffee and the camaraderie, the team at Warrington has confronted challenges that resonate far beyond the walls of their office. These challenges are shared across the industry, centered around a common struggle – recruitment.

“The challenges have been the same as for most of the industry at present – recruitment and the lack of candidates within the industry brings its challenges, however, we have successfully overcome this by collaborating with the wider company, which allows us to maintain the numbers throughout projects.

The Degree Apprenticeship Schemes and how Wallace Whittle supports graduates and industry placements, is where we shine and overcome potential issues arising from a reduced number of candidates.”

Impact via Projects

As Wallace Whittle and the entire industry try to navigate the challenges associated with recruitment, it’s crucial to consider the importance of our project portfolio and the role it plays in not only shaping the industry but retaining and attracting top-tier talent. Warrington has worked on various projects, with repeat customers, from differing sectors over the past 10 years.

“Our major projects and the variety of sectors showcase our staff’s experience versatility and technical expertise across the Built Environment. From the expansive Boddingtons residential development, which includes the creation of over 500 new units, to our work in healthcare & Life Sciences with The Victoria Infirmary in Northwich and Kadans Manchester projects, respectively. Projects involving major new build and refurbishment facilities.”

Warrington exemplifies versatility and innovation, with projects spanning from Data Centres and state-of-the-art commercial spaces to the transformation of The Store Oxford, a historic 18th-century building, into a luxurious 4-star boutique hotel featuring 101 guestrooms, a restaurant, bar, spa/gym, and rooftop bar.

You can learn more about Warrington’s Project Portfolio here – Highlighting: Warrington Projects – Wallace Whittle

As we reflect on a decade marked by triumphs, challenges, and unwavering dedication to quality, Warrington’s journey is symbolic of our commitment to progress. As Wallace Whittle continues to chart its path in England, we look forward to seeing how Paul navigates the next 10 years in Warrington and Manchester.


As Wallace Whittle continues to expand and innovate, we invite you to explore our career opportunities in the region. If you’re interested in joining our forward-thinking team or have a project that could benefit from our expertise, we encourage you to get in touch at [email protected] or explore the roles listed below.