The winners of the 2025 Early Careers Challenge (ECC), presented by Ground Engineering in partnership with the British Geotechnical Association (BGA), were announced at the recent GeoTech conference, highlighting the brightest new talents in ground engineering.
The Winning Team
This year's champions include Harry Hooper from Ramboll, Ardra Ramesh Kumar from Mott MacDonald, Jonathan Yap from Robert Bird Group, Tayyib Chowdhury from Crouch Waterfall, and Miriam Sellick from the University of Cambridge. Their diverse backgrounds and collaborative spirit were key to their success.
Challenge Overview
Launched in August 2025 by Ground Engineering and the BGA, this marks the third year of the ECC. The competition brought together 19 finalists divided into four teams, each supported by a mentor. The technical brief, provided by Ramboll, tasked participants with designing innovative geotechnical solutions for a new offshore wind energy facility on the UK's east coast. Teams focused on feasibility designs for the quay wall, land reclamation, working platform, and breakwater, emphasizing sustainable solutions and support for the UK's net zero ambitions.
Judging and Recognition
At the GeoTech conference on 2 October, all teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges. The winning team was praised for their clear collaboration and comprehensive coverage of topics, despite none having prior offshore experience. Devji Bhuva, a judge and managing director of GSS Piling, noted their impressive research and understanding. Mentor Andrew O'Donovan from Bam UK highlighted the team's proactivity and enthusiasm, calling them "five people to watch out for."
Participant Insights
Team members shared their experiences, with Hooper valuing the transformation from strangers to friends and the open exchange of ideas. Kumar appreciated the lifelong friendships and the push to think creatively, while Chowdhury enjoyed combining diverse perspectives for practical, sustainable outcomes. Sellick, the youngest member, contributed skills in carbon calculation and biodiversity, feeling proud of their cohesive team presentation.
Mentors and Judges
Mentors included experts from A-squared Studio, Bam Ritchies UK, Robert Bird Group, Merridew Monteith, and Ramboll. The judging panel comprised leaders from GSS Piling, National Highways, University of Birmingham, Canal and River Trust, and HS2 Ltd. A detailed write-up of the winning entry will be featured in a future issue of Ground Engineering magazine.
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