The Interview
How many firms have worked for 007?
10th April 2008
Reporter Tanya Haji talks to Jerry Muscroft, of Stuart Michael Associates, for Newbury Business Today
CONSULTING engineering company Stuart Michael Associates (SMA) has seen a lot of growth over its 20 years at its Thatcham base at Coombe House.The services the company provides include civil, environmental, structural and transportation services.
Particular areas of expertise are transportation planning, traffic studies, highway design, environmental impact assessments, infrastructure master planning and design, structural assessment and design, and the design of motor
racing circuits.
SMA has also presented evidence at public inquiries and planning appeals.
The company offers advice to public sector companies including local authorities, schools and residential developers
When the company first established itself in 1988, there were only six members of staff, now there are about 43 members of staff on board.
One of the directors of the company Jerry Muscroft (pictured)said: “We work as a team here, we work as a unit.
“Most people who come to work with us tend to stay.
“When I started we were only six strong and now we are about five times as big.
“We still have a family feel to the team which makes it a nice place to work really."
One of the company’s most famous recent projects is the Pinewood Studios gatehouse building, which was officially opened by the Queen at the start of November last year.
Pinewood has produced some of the most famous films in cinema history, and is possibly best known as the home of the James Bond series.
For this £3m project, SMA provided various services including development planning, infrastructure and structural works.
As a result SMA designed and completed the civil engineering works that formed the access and carried out the detailed design of the new gatehouse which includes a 45m span ecologically friendly roof structure that covers the internal access road.
The roof itself, which recycles rainwater, shows the company's commitment to looking into other solutions to the conventional in terms of ecological features.
Mr Muscroft said: “As a team we were given four months to design, obtain planning permission, procure contracts and materials and build the new entrance and gatehouse.
“In itself it is not a complicated project but it was condensed into four months.
“The roof structure was a complex one itself so we were in consultation with the architect and the steel manufacturer so we knew it could be built in time.
“It was a big project; the construction work was worth about £3m.”
Prior to this, the team redesigned the entire north circuit at Silverstone Formula One race track.
This again was a £3m project and had to be done within three months of the winter season.
In 2000, SMA designed a new street Formula One motor racing circuit in Beirut but unfortunately, this project will not be completed because of fighting which has broken out there in recent years.
He said: “There were some really nice old buildings out there.
“It was a fascinating time because as a boy you grow up learning about wars.
“But then when you go out there, on the whole you find it a very peaceful place.
“They are very nice and accommodating people; I had a great time out there.
“All the projects I have been involved with have been interesting.
“This was particularly interesting because we were working overseas.”
Mr Muscroft added: "Being in Newbury means we are closer to family.
“Newbury is a central location with good connections like the M4, especially with the improvements to the A34.
“Clients come to use us because they like working with us.
“We give them a good and personal service and we give them the best that is available.
“A good proportion of our clients come back to us and are referrals and word of mouth.
“At times we don’t have to tender work out because of this and this is a good thing.
“This means we don’t have to market the company that much so we can do the engineering bit which we enjoy.”
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