Jay James: Purpose-driven work in an inclusive environment

Jay James is a consultant in the Sustainable Development team at Haskoning. Since joining as a graduate in 2022, they have grown into a role that combines technical development with purpose-driven projects. For Jay, the experience has been about more than just professional growth. It has been a journey of finding the right people, the right culture, and the freedom to be themselves at work.

Blending place and purpose

Jay’s work has spanned major residential and student accommodation projects, many of them located in the heart of London. "Some sites are just around the corner from my home, visible on my regular running route. For me, this visibility turns the work into something tangible. It is not just theory and numbers, it is real, and it is part of the world I move through every single day."

More recently, Jay has taken on large-scale master planning and technical transport modelling. "What stands out most is the way colleagues have supported their interests. Team members took note of my development goal to develop my modelling skills and actively sought out relevant tasks to support this goal. That consideration is not a one-time thing. It reflects a workplace where initiative and curiosity are noticed, encouraged, and supported in practice."

Shaping a path forward

Jay’s current goal is to build technical confidence and take on more responsibility in shaping project direction. "Rather than just executing assigned tasks, I want to be the person who identifies what needs to happen next. In the next two years, I aim to step into a senior consultant role, managing work streams within larger projects and helping others grow as well."

Why join Integrated Transport Planning?

"Here, personal growth is tied to professional growth. Your identity is respected. Your interests are taken seriously. You are encouraged to carve out your own path while being supported every step of the way. It is a place where initiative matters, and people listen, not just to what you can do, but to who you are and where you want to go."