From Blueprints to Legacy: Babcock engineers and former apprentices reunite at iconic bridge they helped to build

A striking new statue of a Macclesfield-based woman engineer is being unveiled at the Royal Academy of Engineering today to mark National Engineering Day 2024. The vibrant, modern design depicts manufacturing engineer Alice Kan and has been specially designed by visual artist and designer Kelly Anna.

Visitors to the new Engineering Role Model statue will also be able to experience the innovative garden entrance to the building, in which the statue sits. Built in 2011 by a group of young engineering apprentices from Babcock International Group, the ‘S’-shaped bridge fuses engineering, art and architecture to create an elegant walkway.

Some of those apprentices, now working as engineers with Babcock, revisited the Academy this week to view Kelly Anna’s statue to see how their sinuous bridge has taken its place in the John Browne garden, named after Past President of the Academy Lord Browne of Madingley FREng FRS.

The design of the bridge was inspired by a winding picturesque garden path envisaged, but never built, for the premises by the 19th century architect Decimus Burton. It rises gradually to make up the level difference from the pavement to the entrance and is framed by a striking planting scheme designed by Andy Sturgeon, multiple Gold Medal winner at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

A dozen engineering apprentices and technicians, then aged 17-20, under the project management of Joe Doogan, Babcock’s Director of Operations, Marine, took a complex and novel design by architects Burrell Foley Fischer and constructed the seven tonne bridge that is now as much a landmark as the Grade 1 listed building it adjoins.  

Kelly Anna’s sculpture of Alice Kan will be on display at the Academy from 13 until 20 November. Alice, based in Macclesfield, played a pivotal role in the manufacture of the COVID-19 vaccine and is now working on vaccines for Ebola. She was nominated as the Academy’s ‘Engineering Role Model’ through a public vote and selected from over 150 nominations. For more information see National Engineering Day 2024.

Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, says:

“Having someone to look up to is cited as a key reason why young people pursue a particular passion or career. But with only 15.7% women and 12.4% minority ethnic representation in UK engineering, it's crucial that we recruit new engineers from all parts of society to build a more inclusive future.

“That is why for this year’s National Engineering Day we have commissioned an exciting new statue of manufacturing engineer Alice Kan to challenge stereotypes and get people talking about contemporary engineers and the fascinating work they do. We are delighted to have the support of Babcock International, who are an exemplar in training and development of their young engineers, and it’s great to welcome some of their former apprentices to the Academy today to see Kelly Anna’s striking new statue in situ on the bridge they built for us over a decade ago.”

Louise Atkinson, Chief People Officer at Babcock, commented: “The theme of role models for this year’s National Engineering Day is such an important one, interlinked with culture and legacy. At Babcock, we have some amazing people that inspire me every day. Attracting great talent for businesses like ours is a challenge for many in the current climate, but once they join us, they tend to stay. The fact that this group of apprentices have stayed with Babcock and have built their careers here is testament to that. So today is a real celebration not just of role models, but the mentors that helped them and help make the world a better place for us all.”