Meet the Engineer: Matt Patey
At Tideway, our aim is to inspire the engineers of tomorrow by promoting the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths.
We also want to showcase some of the many talented people we have working across the project. Meet Matt Patey.
My name is Matt Patey and I joined Tideway as a Construction Engineer in February 2019. My main worksite is Heathwall Pumping Station, however I do spend some of my time at Kirtling Street.
A big part of my role as a Construction Engineer is covering assurance aspects of the works. General tasks include reviewing the documents issued by the team around building the job which includes reviewing Inspection and Test Plans and the materials the team proposes against the design drawings and specifications.
When I get out on site, I attend quality inspections to provide assurance that the finished product is built effectively and to the high standards we have and because there is a big focus on health, safety and wellbeing I am often involved in reviewing method statements for the works, whilst also undertaking site safety and occupational health inspections.
Like many young kids, growing up I wanted to be a professional footballer. That ambition quickly diminished when I realised that I have two left feet! Other than that, I was never too sure what I wanted to do whilst I was at school, but STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) subjects were always my strength.
Because I was good at Maths and Physics at school, getting into engineering and construction fell naturally. I was interested in how things work with numbers and calculations which had a practical application. I studied Maths and Physics at A Level, which are the main subjects needed to get onto Civil Engineering courses at university.
My cousin had just finished his degree in engineering and set up a placement at his company which confirmed my interest. Being involved in large scale, major projects which have a positive impact on everyone’s daily lives really interested me.
I went on to study a Master’s Degree in Civil & Coastal Engineering at Plymouth University, before joining CH2M Hill as a graduate Water Engineer working on the TEAM2100 programme. This project was involved in the asset management of the flood defence assets along the length of the river Thames, spending a lot of time on projects at the Thames Barrier.
After four years there, I was keen to be involved in some of the major civils works for Tideway as I was really interested in working more directly on the construction side of a major project.
I am currently focusing on becoming Chartered with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), which I hope to obtain in the next two years. In the next few years I hope to progress towards becoming a Project Manager once Tideway is completed, on another major project.