Expression of Interest – Contractor Engagement – Bridge and Structures Inspectors

About BakerHicks

BakerHicks is a leading design, engineering and project delivery consultancy, delivering complex infrastructure, industrial and built environment projects across the UK and Europe. Our Infrastructure team supports a wide range of clients and frameworks, providing specialist engineering, inspection, surveying and asset management services. As our project portfolio continues to grow, we are expanding our network of trusted contractors to support current and future bridge inspection requirements across the UK.

Our Bridges Team delivers expert engineering solutions across the full lifecycle of bridge and structures projects, from inspection and assessment through to design, refurbishment, strengthening, and replacement works. Our engineers work on a diverse portfolio of assets including highway bridges, railway bridges, footbridges, retaining structures, culverts, and other critical infrastructure across the UK. We combine technical excellence with a practical, collaborative approach, working closely with clients, asset owners, local authorities, contractors, and multidisciplinary teams to develop safe, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions.

The Opportunity

We are seeking Expressions of Interest from competent and experienced Bridge and Structural Inspectors to join our growing contractor talent pool. This is not a live vacancy tied to a specific project. Instead, we are building a network of pre-qualified professionals who can be considered for assignments as needs arise across our infrastructure portfolio. Applications are welcomed from anywhere in the UK. Site travel will normally be required, there is no requirement to be based near a BakerHicks office. We are particularly keen to hear from inspectors based in Scotland, while welcoming applications from inspectors based in England.

What We're Looking For

• Inspectors with experience in one or more of the following activities and environments:

• General inspections
• Principal inspections, including close-up examination and access equipment
• Safety, special and reactive inspections
• Inspections for assessment and monitoring
• Condition surveys (defect investigations and condition scoring)
• Highway structures on trunk road and local authority networks
• Railway structures
• Inspection and access planning, and reporting
• Team leadership and technical review by appropriately qualified Senior Inspectors

Relevant asset types and construction forms may include:

• Road and rail bridges, including footbridges
• Culverts and buried structures
• Retaining walls
• Tunnel structures
• Sign and signal gantries, masts and other ancillary highway structures
• Structures over or adjacent to watercourses, including scour-related inspections
• Concrete, steel, masonry, timber, composite and post-tensioned structures

Knowledge & Experience

Applicants should be able to demonstrate the following, appropriate to the assignments sought:

• Relevant UK bridge or structures inspection experience, with a clear record of inspection roles and asset types
• Working knowledge of applicable standards and client procedures, including NR/L3/CIV/006 and/or DMRB CS 450 where relevant
• Ability to identify, photograph and classify defects; record severity and extent; recognise urgent safety issues; and produce accurate reports and recommendations
• Ability to plan and coordinate inspection works, including access arrangements and traffic or rail control measures
• Knowledge of structural materials, deterioration mechanisms, structural behaviour and inspection limitations
• Experience with National Highways, Transport Scotland, Network Rail, local authorities or comparable asset owners and supply chains
• Experience producing inspection reports and condition assessments, including reporting using Bridge Condition Indicators
• IT Literacy – proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Depending on the assignment, the following will be required or advantageous:

• Current Bridge Inspector Certification Scheme (BICS) certification at Inspector or Senior Inspector level, appropriate to the work
• Relevant BEng/MEng in civil or structural engineering qualification, or equivalent inspection experience
• Current working-at-height and confined-space competence, where applicable
• IPAF/MEWP, IRATA rope-access, PASMA mobile access towers, Ladder or other relevant access qualifications, where applicable
• Current Safe Working Near Water (SWNW) or other equivalent competence, where applicable
• Current Safe use of Trolley Equipment or Rail Trolley controller, where applicable
• Valid CSCS or other required site-access certification
• For rail work, current Personal Track Safety (PTS) and other role-specific competences; SSSTS or SMSTS for supervisory duties
• Network Rail Competencies STE2 – 7 as defined in NR/SP/CTM/017

Why Register Your Interest?

By joining our contractor talent pool, you will:

• Be considered for assignments matching your competence, location and availability
• Build a working relationship with BakerHicks
• Work alongside experienced infrastructure professionals
• Support projects across a variety of sectors, clients and UK locations

How to Register Your Interest

Please submit your CV. Our Talent Acquisition team will review applications alongside our Infrastructure discipline leaders, and suitable candidates will be invited to an introductory discussion.

Engagement Details

• Contract opportunities (Inside IR35 / PAYE engagement)
• Flexible working depending on project requirements (office/site/hybrid)
• Locations across the UK

Many of the positions within our company are subject to security clearance or security assurance levels. The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance or assurance level for this role, in line with client and sector requirements. In some cases, additional nationality or residency criteria may also apply due to specific client or national security obligations.

BakerHicks is an equal opportunity employer. We care about creating an inclusive atmosphere and are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion throughout. BakerHicks is an inclusive organisation welcoming talent from all backgrounds. Applicants are assessed on the basis of personal merit and qualifications.