At Black & White Engineering, we are proud to celebrate the people who have shaped our success. With over 50 team members reaching their 10-year anniversaries and above this year, their stories offer a unique insight into what makes an engineering career at Black & White so rewarding.
In this article, we hear from our Newcastle office, where Barry Allan and Tony Hutchinson reflect on their decade of growth, global projects and the importance of a strong team culture.
Tony Hutchinson, Principal Mechanical Engineer – Newcastle
“The ‘One Team’ ethos is real here. Everyone wants to do a good job. You can feel the drive to deliver the best possible outcome. After a while, colleagues become friends, even family.”
“One of my lecturers told me Black & White had just opened in Newcastle and were looking for graduates. I reached out for a summer placement and ended up with a full-time offer. I spoke with Steve Horn in that first meeting and I just knew this was something I wanted to be part of. The scale of the projects, the ambition, the people. It all felt right.
“I’ve grown a lot in ten years. Learning how to manage people effectively has probably been the biggest shift for me. The last year, especially, has been the most important of my career, thanks to the support from our Learning & Development team.
“And the future? I want to see how far we can take this. I’ve seen what we’ve built in a decade. I truly believe we’re on track to be one of the best engineering consultancies in the world, if we’re not already.”
Barry Allan, Project BIM Lead – Newcastle
“It’s the people who’ve kept me here. They’re genuinely the best colleagues I’ve ever worked with.”
“I joined Black & White because a friend recommended I come in for an interview. I’m so glad I did. Back then, we were just 12 people working on the first floor of Generator Studios. I’ve seen the Newcastle office move twice to make room for our growing team. The projects have got bigger and more technically challenging. When I started, there were two of us in BIM, now there are seven, and that’s just in Newcastle. We’re working closely with our India team to deliver high-profile projects.
“Personally, Black & White has been a constant through a lot of big milestones. I got married and have also became a dad during my time here. I’ve seen us grow not just in size but in ambition. We’ve built a strong brand, a global presence and a culture that feels like one team. That’s what makes this place so special.”
Inspired by Barry and Tony’s stories?
Explore where an engineering career at Black & White could take you. Visit our careers page to learn more.