Phil has built much of his career around taking early-stage opportunities and turning them into something lasting, whether that is a discipline, an office, a sector or a talented team.

Since joining Ridge in 2012, Phil has played a central role in the firm’s growth. He scaled the MEP engineering discipline from around 20 people into a national team and led the expansion of the Bristol office, growing its reputation and attracting exceptional people at a time when Ridge had little recognition in the region. Today, as a member of the executive group, he continues to help steer the direction of the business, while developing the next generation of leaders.

Earlier in his Ridge career, Phil built a strong track record in defence and security, working with the Ministry of Defence, DIO, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and major defence contractors including Boeing. The work often took him into demanding international environments, where inventive engineering thinking had to be grounded in what could realistically be built, operated and maintained. Local skills, logistics and buildability all mattered. He also spent time working in further education, a sector that felt especially meaningful given that he began his own career as an apprentice.

That route into the industry still influences how Phil leads. He is committed to creating opportunities for others, and giving people the room to find their own way, just as he once did. It reflects the culture that first attracted him to Ridge: a business that gives people the freedom to back their instincts, take ownership and make things happen.

Phil stays active with cricket, five-a-side football and golf – games he plays as much now for the friendships as the competition.