Insights Take a blog tour of Atkins Epsom

Vicky Stewart | Associate Acoustician

23 July 2018

Which Atkins office is where Sir William Atkins started the business over 75 years ago, features two heritage listed buildings, houses 1,000 Atkineers – and is in the same town where Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin discovered his first guitar?

– It’s Atkins Epsom of course!

Welcome to beautiful and historic Epsom. It’s famous for the Epsom Derby, one of the most thrilling horse-races in the world. And in case you were wondering, yes it gives the popular name to magnesium sulphate – Epsom Salts.

Read on to get a feel for work-life at Atkins Epsom. I’ve included some facts and recommendations from everyone here, and plenty of pictures so you can ‘meet’ the teams behind the innovation!

What inspires the innovation at Atkins Epsom?

Happiness! Our friendly teams are made up of a really diverse mix of driven, talented people who bring out the best in each other. Our building was specially designed and built to give us the best possible work environment. It’s positioned so that we enjoy plenty daylight and natural ventilation. It is also in the most beautiful green surroundings, which really shows how much the business values work-life balance and wellbeing!

What is the actual work like at Atkins Epsom?

I love it! I’ve never been part of such passionate engineering teams who also have so much time for each other. The way we work is truly multi-disciplinary and collaborative – so everyone brings together amazing skills to deliver the best for our clients, and also to change the world for real people and communities.

What are your teams like?

Besides being some of the most skilled peeps I’ve worked with in the industry, we are a truly diverse bunch. No one is ignored – we have women and men from different cultures and age bands, as well as employees who face life-long personal challenges. It’s amazing to work in a place where everyone is valued, supported and encouraged no matter who they are or where they are in life.

What is the actual work like?

It’s challenging, exciting and different every day. The team environment within the office is nothing short of inspiring. We have big teams collaborating on large projects in the south east. I work with everyone from graduates to senior management who are all super-approachable.

What are your clients like?

I don’t want to show off! But we get to work on the ‘big projects’. Our clients are major global companies, like Highways England and HS2. They motivate us because they care as much as we do about how our work is changing the world for people and making it a better place.

What do you love the most about Atkins Epsom?

Flexible working has to be my top choice! Although I’m officially part of the Epsom office, I regularly work from home and also our London office, making the most of city life when I have evening plans. Our managers are so supportive of employees finding their perfect work life balance. Like me, not all of the Atkineers who flex are parents. We have flexible workers who have other industry commitments, who might be reservists, or have other important life goals, such as training for the Olympics!

When Epsom employees aren’t innovating what are they doing?

You’ve heard the saying, ‘teams who play together stay together’. Well, this is certainly true at Atkins Epsom. The office is collectively so crazy about sport that we have a special information booklet covering everything we play – from hockey, to basketball, tennis, badminton and golf! Never fear, there’s no shortage of socials for people like me, who don’t do sport – the Atkineers are always keen to meet up for BBQs or hit the town for jazz evenings, theatre, dinners and drinks.

Where do you eat out?

Epsom has a lively town centre and enticing high street. On any given day you’ll find employees nipping out for sushi at Makiyaki, pizza at Il Grande or a burger at Black’s.

What else makes your location a great place to work?

Everyone agrees we love working in a vibrant town-centre location. It’s always great to get a group together for lunchtime strolls to the shops or the park – and of course to the pub on Friday evening!

Where should I stay if I visit?

If you’re visiting from another Atkins location, or interviewing from out of town, there are two hotels that are a short walk from our office: The Premier Inn Town Centre, and Travelodge Epsom Central.

If I have time to stay and sight-see, what should I put on my list?

There’s so much to see in Epsom – starting right here at our offices. When you visit, be sure to allow extra time to see our ‘Epsom STEMLab’. It was originally created to give school children an opportunity to safely experience our Woodcote Grove build site, and to see how things they learn at school apply to real life. Now it’s an inspiring place for anyone to visit, with brilliant interactive exhibits like virtual reality and sensory spaces, as well as fun apps and games.

It goes without saying, the world-famous racecourse is a ‘must-do’. If you’re lucky to be here on Derby Day, you might even glimpse the Queen! I love the scenic walk along the Hogsmill River from Bourne Hall to Ewell Court House, it’s beautiful any time of the year. There’s always excellent theatre on at the Epsom Playhouse – and if you’re into history there’s Nonsuch Mansion and its stunning park, originally one of Henry VIII’s palaces.

How do you commute?

This is my second most favourite thing about working at the Epsom Office – you don’t have to commute into London! It’s easy to get around by train, bus or car, with plenty of parking in the town centre. And if you do need to go into London, the Southern and South West Trains serve central London at Waterloo.

Fancy yourself in our Epsom office? Here’s some good news: we’re hiring!