Tim Burt steps up to CEO as company eyes South West expansion

Independent Design House (IDH), the engineering design consultancy based in the UK and Poland, is consolidating a successful 2020 with the appointment of Ian Fernandes-Johnson as managing director, as Tim Burt moves into a new CEO position at the company. Now over 30 people-strong, the business has also welcomed a new Engineering Manager as it eyes further expansion in the South West.

Working with industry leading clients such as ISG and Laing O’Rourke Construction Ltd, IDH has just opened its first office in Bristol, led by Fernandes-Johnson. This will be a new addition to its UK operations, currently centred in Maidstone, which works closely with its hub in Krakow, which is now known as Independent Design House Sp. Z o.o.
The firm provides both temporary and permanent works design; with full 2D draughting and 3D modelling services along with all BIM requirements. 2021 will also see IDH increasing its work for the steel industry, continuing to offer services ranging from structural frame design to connection design and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and further temporary works design, plus full draughting services. It will also offer design and support for all bridge installation schemes, both steel and concrete.
Leading UK operations will be new managing director, Fernandes-Johnson, who has a strong background in steel and bridge engineering and is highly experienced through working with companies such as Bourne, Cleveland Bridge, ISG and engineering consultancies in the nuclear sector. He has been tasked with expanding and developing the business, with a focus on the West Country.

Fernandes-Johnson comments: “Building on my experiences working in some major construction companies I felt it was the right time for me to step up to a managing director role. I’m particularly excited about joining such a great team, opening a new Bristol office, and developing our offering to the industry in this part of the country, building and on our work in London and the South East. I’m looking forward to working with existing customers and offering our services more broadly.”

Meanwhile, as CEO, Burt will be overseeing the business as a whole, as well as focusing on a new property development arm, with builds starting in early 2021. He comments: “2020 laid the groundwork for a brilliant new year, and we’re so pleased we can bring Ian on board as MD while I expand my role. We will be focusing on developing our UK team to concentrate on design delivery and management, with our core team of highly technical engineers undertaking design and analysis from our base in Poland.”