Celebrating Richard Maggs' 25 Years of Service at Bureau Veritas UK: A Career Path Full of Growth and Development

Could you describe your career path and current position? 

My career path is built upon my childhood interest in nature, I studied Applied Plant Biology at the University of Wales in the mid to late 1980s and then went on to continue this interest in applied biological sciences at the University of Reading, ending up studying for my PhD in Air Pollution Impacts at Imperial College, London. I joined commercial practice – then as an environmental consultant, which has been 25 years since!  

Building upon my experience in air pollution, gained through my research studies, I was appointed 'Senior Consultant'. I was fortunate in that my leap into commercial consultancy came at a time when new air quality legislation was coming into effect. This included the start of the local air quality management (LAQM) regime, the adoption of the European framework on air quality and the associated Daughter Directives. The need for stronger scientific evidence regarding the characterisation of air pollution and identifying the extent of compliance challenges was clear. This gave me some great opportunities to work with Government at the time. I was soon promoted to Principal Consultant for my efforts in bringing commercial success to the business. My next promotion came in 2005 to Business Unit Manager for Air Quality – a role that was challenging in many ways, such as the need to deliver a clear strategy and achieve success at revenue and operating profit levels.   

My current role as Head of Environment & Sustainability strategically aligns with the current Bureau Veritas UK 5-year strategy plan, where a focus on sustainability is at its core. I additionally take the lead on promoting technical career pathways which entails working with experts in their field within the company and promoting Thought Leadership. This is a key motivator for many of our employees. Lastly, under the Government’s Net Zero strategy and the challenges of climate change, biodiversity collapse and resource management, my role ensures keeping an eye on emerging policies and regulations, which our clients have to be aware of and respond to.  

What inspired you to stay with Bureau Veritas UK for 25 years? 

Bureau Veritas acquired the company I was working for in the mid-2000s when I had already amassed seven years of service. It was clear from the outset that Bureau Veritas was an ambitious company, positioning itself as the leading provider of testing, inspection, and certification services. Being inquisitive regarding the company, who does what and what they do soon enabled me to become well-networked and a focal point for random client queries! The articulation of the business strategy and the updates are clear with the communication channels aligning with my values of transparency and honesty. There have been bumps along the way concerning business challenges, but the constancy has been the people – at its heart Bureau Veritas UK is a people business, and it has been great to see many colleagues flourish in their careers.

How has Bureau Veritas UK supported your professional development and growth? 

Much of my development has been through on-the-job training and experiences. The company has provided internal training and enables me to attend external conferences and workshops to maintain the relevance of my expertise and enhance my existing knowledge. Over the years, I have seen a greater emphasis on training, and we now have a personal objective around training hours to achieve each year: the learning and development aspects of the role have had a greater focus than they did at the start of my career and Bureau Veritas UK enables spaces to achieve this. 

What do you enjoy most about working with the team at Bureau Veritas UK? 

No day is the same! The tasks and deliverables I face are incredibly varied and use all parts of my brain. I may move from a deeply technical discussion related to air quality, negotiations on commercial risks, legal matters, finances, and people management matters regarding support and development. 

Looking back on your 25-year career with Bureau Veritas UK, what are you most proud of? 

There is much to be proud of when looking back over 25 years. It's fantastic to have been a part of the building and maintaining a cohesive team of air quality experts, which packs a punch for our size. It has also been a notable achievement to be a trusted partner for Defra and the Environment Agency concerning air quality compliance networks, and because of this, I sit on the UK Air Quality Expert Group as an ex-officio member. Looking back on my younger self – an individual who was very uncertain of their career path, I think I have done quite well and look forward to the challenges to come!