Conversations at the Cutting Edge of Engineering
Guests: Martin Reynolds CEng FIMechE and Richard Ward at Subco Engineering
Embarking on a quest to spotlight Martin Reynolds and Richard Ward alongside a cadre of equally brilliant engineers through a series of insightful dialogues, Reach Further Online traces its lineage back to a heritage deeply entwined within the engineering realm, a commitment nurtured across a spectrum exceeding ten fruitful years. Our experience with this sector has shown us that one thing is constant, change. There is both a personal interest and a business need to remain in lockstep with the ever-evolving industry because, in the dynamic world of engineering, change is the only constant, driving us towards innovations that redefine our reality and underscore the essence of progress. There is always more to learn, and what better way to do this than with first-hand accounts emanating directly from the core of this vibrant industry – the engineers themselves. It is within their everyday hurdles, ground-breaking solutions, and forward-thinking visions that the domain of engineering sees continuous metamorphosis and becomes a source of inspiration.
In our constant quest for expansion and knowledge, we acknowledge the treasure trove of wisdom to be unearthed from these inspiring professionals who daily chart their course through the complex seas of engineering. Our ambition lies in assembling and deciphering data, equipping us to identify trends and furnish insights of a calibre that might remain elusive to engineers immersed within their specialities. We warmly extend an invitation to engineers stimulated by our revelations or those eager to share their distinctive insights in future dialogues to join forces with us. In undertaking this collective exploration and enlightenment, we aim to paint a comprehensive picture of the ever-evolving engineering world.
As we continue our journey, stay tuned because Reach Further Online is on a mission to illuminate the extraordinary intellects propelling the engineering sector onwards.
Insights from Martin Reynolds and Richard Ward – A Feature Presented by Reach Further Online
Forging a Path: Martin Reynolds and Richard Ward’s Ascent from Diverse Roots to Industry Innovators
From the structured precision of design engineering to the hands-on ingenuity of marine and offshore projects, the journey of Martin Reynolds and Richard Ward encapsulates lives transformed by ambition, ingenuity, and relentless pursuit of excellence. In this detailed feature, Reach Further Online explores how their unique backgrounds and shared vision have laid the groundwork for their dynamic and innovative engineering venture.
Martin Reynolds: Turning Frustration into Innovation
Martin Reynolds, co-founder of Subco Engineering, recounts his journey from an aspiring pilot to a key figure in the engineering industry. “I’ve always been interested in making things, even just from Lego when I was young. I liked tinkering with things and really enjoyed maths,” Martin shares. His early aspirations to become a pilot were dashed when he failed a medical for the RAF due to height restrictions and metal plates in his leg from a football injury. A medical officer’s suggestion led him towards aerospace engineering, anchoring his lifelong passion for the field. “I just stayed in engineering ever since, really”, he adds. Martin climbed the professional ladder through roles at well-known engineering companies. “I started as a design engineer and eventually moved to managerial roles,” he says.
However, a recurring frustration with inefficiencies in engineering processes planted the seed for a new business idea. “We strongly disliked the systems in place—having to do timesheets multiple times, storing documents in different locations. I just wanted to find a way of increasing the efficiency of the systems the engineers use,” Martin recalls.
This drive for improvement led him to co-found a new venture with Richard Ward, focused on streamlining engineering processes.
“I always knew I wanted to start my own company. When we identified a significant gap in the industry, coupled with common frustrations among engineers, it drove us to take the leap. However, establishing a business involves much more than just addressing industry needs. There’s business development, marketing, and of course, generating income and that can make time management quite challenging.
Fortunately, having two of us in the business allows us to share the burdens and stress. If I had been doing this alone, I might have looked at the enormity of the tasks ahead and felt it was insurmountable.
Having a partner means we can lean on each other and distribute the workload. It’s a great source of support to have someone to bounce ideas off and alleviate the pressure when things get tough.”
Richard Ward: From Physics to Engineering Solutions
Richard Ward’s journey took a different path, stemming from an academic background in physics. “My undergraduate degree was in physics, so I wasn’t really like an engineer to start with,” Richard explains. However, the limited job prospects in pure physics prompted a pivot towards applied sciences and ultimately engineering. “After university, I bounced around a couple of companies, from construction to heat exchangers to lube oil machines,” he shares.
Richard explains, “I moved to Newcastle 11 years ago without a job and I enrolled in Newcastle University’s part-time Msc in Subsea Engineering whilst job hunting. I was fortunate to secure a local engineering job relatively quickly. That was a watershed moment in my life; studying part-time whilst working is a real challenge – hats off to everyone that does it – but the rewards are there for those willing”, he recalls with a smile. His persistence paid off, and he soon secured positions that allowed him to apply his physics background to real-world engineering challenges. This blend of academic rigour and practical experience equipped him with a comprehensive skill set that would prove invaluable in his future endeavours.
Richard mentions, “I never really found my place until I entered the marine and offshore industry,” explaining that this sector offered him the perfect blend of challenge and opportunity, allowing him to merge his physics background with real-world engineering solutions.
When asked about any particular career achievements, Richard recalls, “I’ve worked on a few really challenging and noteworthy projects in the past. One in particular involved a launch and recovery system that we had to commission during the COVID-19 pandemic. We travelled overseas to a military base, undergoing a two-week quarantine in a hotel room before getting started.
“After quarantine, our small team commissioned equipment and trained the local military, a significant achievement. During the pandemic, we took a 28-hour bus ride due to no flights. At the military base, limited food, strict security protocols, and other international teams working on sensitive projects added even more intrigue, that was all a bit strange but an exciting experience nonetheless.”
Richard continues, “Taking on big challenges, even when they seem risky and daunting, often brings the biggest rewards. When you have a team of positive and committed people, it’s amazing what you can achieve quickly, even in tough conditions. We want to bring this vision to life in our Subco business plan by surrounding ourselves with a supportive team. Together, with like-minded people, we believe we can tackle the industry’s biggest challenges.”
A Unique Approach to Flexible Engineering
United by a shared vision and complementary backgrounds, Martin and Richard co-founded their engineering company, Subco Engineering, aimed at addressing the fluctuating resource demands of their clients. “Our company specialises in offering flexible fixed scope workpacks to help clients with their engineering needs,” Martin explains. Their approach revolves around a unique operating model that allows quick adjustments to project scopes, offering clients unparalleled flexibility. “Work can be started, paused, and stopped at any point depending on the project demand,” he adds.
“It’s always incredibly rewarding when all the key players can commit fully. Engineers especially thrive when they can dive into a project and focus on solving complex problems. When everyone is dedicated and working collaboratively, it’s amazing what can be accomplished.” Richard says.
Martin explains, “The systems have long been a persistent issue, especially for engineering companies dealing with legacy systems and the complexities of data migration. It often feels like they’re trying to force everything into a system that simply doesn’t operate efficiently. It’s almost as if engineers end up spending 50% of their time on administrative tasks and only 50% on actual engineering. What we aim to achieve is a complete turnaround, allowing engineers to focus on what they do best—engineering.”
Martin continues, “One of the main reasons we’re designing this platform is to address the significant challenge of optimising engineers’ time. Currently, there isn’t a single platform that seamlessly allows companies to quicky and efficiently flex up their resource on demand.
Often, businesses try to adapt off-the-shelf software to fit their established processes, which is incredibly difficult given the complexity and volume of their existing workflows. That’s one of the reasons we decided to start from scratch.
This challenge isn’t unique to our industry either. The banking sector, for example, faces similar issues with the old established companies being too big and too slow to react to the rapidly changing technology. In contrast, newer companies, which begin with a clean slate, can create a unique lean operating model maximising the benefits of new systems and innovate new solutions of their own. That’s what makes our approach so exciting.”
The pair emphasise the importance of being adaptable and attentive to customer needs when developing solutions. They stress the value of flexibility in problem-solving, acknowledging that they do not come with predetermined answers. Instead, their approach focuses on listening to clients and tailoring solutions to meet the specific requirements of the market or individual clients. The goal is to engage in meaningful conversations to understand the challenges clients face, rather than offering solutions that miss the mark.
They highlight the practice of “active listening,” which involves genuinely understanding the market and customer needs, instead of imposing preconceived solutions. This approach underscores the significance of being open-minded and willing to adapt their strategies based on customer feedback.
Their business model not only addresses inefficiencies they experienced in their previous roles but also aligns with modern engineering demands. “Subco monitors the progress of the workpack so the client doesn’t have to,” explains Martin. “We plan to offer full visibility of the work status through our real-time client portal.”
Martin and Richard both emphasise the importance of scope clarity. “We work with clients to define the workpack, generate a work breakdown structure, and produce a fixed price quotation for the job,” Richard elaborates. “We gather metadata from each workpack and feed that back into our databases. We are continuously learning and improving on the work we do, so we can offer our clients calculated solutions to their problems – not just estimates.” This meticulous approach ensures that projects are well-defined from the outset, significantly reducing the risk of scope creep and unforeseen costs.
Efficient and Productive Engineering
“Efficiency is at the heart of our operations,” Richard insists. “We adhere to a process-driven approach to ensure the efficient use of resources.” Their philosophy is encapsulated in the motto, “make every hour productive,” which underscores their commitment to minimising wastage of time and effort. “Our experience has shown that high-quality temporary engineering resources can determine the success or failure of a project,” Richard adds.
Innovation Stemming from Real-World Challenges
Both Martin and Richard’s careers have been shaped by real-world engineering challenges. Their extensive experience in managing multi-million pound marine and offshore projects has provided them with deep insights into what works and what doesn’t. “Our firsthand experience in project delivery highlighted the critical importance of high-quality engineering resources,” Martin notes.
Richard shared, “When you enter the industry, you quickly realise the vast scale of these projects and the intricate interconnectedness of every component. I wouldn’t say it’s an addiction, but it truly is the pinnacle of engineering in my view. Coordinating multiple interfaces with various companies and different types of equipment, all while managing tight deadlines, is about as challenging as it gets.
Ward continues, “That kind of challenge is incredibly appealing. Our combined experiences in this industry, coupled with a deep understanding of its flaws and areas for improvement, are what spurred us to establish our own venture.”
An Ambitious Team with a Clear Vision
Describing their company as “a small startup with big ambitions,” the duo combines their collective industry experience to strive for engineering excellence. “Our vision is to provide superior solutions for companies looking to flexibly scale their engineering teams,” says Richard. Their nimble operating model and commitment to high standards position them uniquely in the marketplace.
Client-Centric Approach
Martin and Richard underscore the importance of understanding their clients’ needs and aligning their services accordingly. Through precise scope definitions and real-time monitoring, they ensure that the client’s interests are at the forefront of every project. “We aim to relieve our clients of the burden of constant supervision and provide them with transparent, reliable and accurate information,” Martin explains.
Conclusion: Engineering the Future
Through dialogues that capture the essence of pioneering minds like Martin Reynolds and Richard Ward, Reach Further Online aims to illuminate the compelling stories driving the engineering sector forward. These insightful conversations reveal the depth of expertise and vision required to navigate and shape the ever-evolving engineering landscape. As we continue to highlight these influential voices, it becomes clear that progress and innovation within the field are driven by the dedication and ingenuity of engineers like Martin and Richard. Their journey, which incorporates elements of resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, serves as a beacon for aspiring engineers.
Stay with us as we continue to bring you more stories from the extraordinary intellects propelling the engineering sector onwards.
Key Takeaways
1. Background and Inspiration
– Martin Reynolds’ early fascination with making things and an aspiration to become a pilot eventually led him to engineering. – Richard Ward’s journey began with a degree in physics, which later pivoted to apply his skills to engineering challenges.
2. Professional Journey
– Martin worked his way up from design engineer roles to managerial positions with an emphasis on improving engineering efficiencies. – Richard transitioned through various roles before finding his niche in the marine and offshore industry.
3. Establishment of Company
– Martin and Richard co-founded their engineering venture to address inefficiencies and provide flexible, high-quality engineering resources. – Their unique operating model offers clients the flexibility to adjust project scopes seamlessly.
4. Commitment to Efficiency
– Adopting a process-driven approach ensures every hour spent is productive and efficient. – Their real-time client portal provides transparency and ease of project monitoring.
5. Client-Centric Vision
– A focus on clarity and precision in scope definitions sets the stage for successful project execution. – Their company aims to relieve clients of supervision burdens while ensuring high standards of work.
Through such engaging discussions, Reach Further Online continues to delve into the narratives that shape and define the field of engineering. This ongoing collective exploration paints a comprehensive picture of the industry’s dynamic nature, driven by engineers’ dedication and innovative spirit. Martin Reynolds and Richard Ward exemplify this through their career journeys and the establishment of their forward-thinking business, inspiring others within the sector.
