-----

This episode is all about Chartership with the IStructE, and in particular the process of gaining full membership (MIStructE). The application and in particular the exam is infamously challenging but equally hugely beneficial to your professional development and directly applicable to your every day if you are involved in technical design work. We hope to encourage potential candidates by sharing the details of the tried and tested approach to preparation that greatly improves your chances of success.

My guests on this episode are Chris Ball and Sam Hobbs. Chris is an Associate Director and Sam an Associate (Engineer) in the Structures department of Tony Gee and Partners LLP, both talented and experienced engineers with a strong technical focus and a wealth of knowledge to share. We all sat and successfully passed the IStructE professional review in January 2020 at first attempt, and we put a significant part of that success down to the careful preparation technique we followed, as well as the support we were able to offer each other by preparing together. The conversation to some extent focuses on the 'Bridge Question' in the exam, as that is where our combined experience lies. However, there are many valuable and directly transferable lessons shared.

There are links below to the main resources mentioned in the episode:

• Sam's Website - www.thebridgequestion.org | Contact: sam.hobbs@tonygee.com
• IStructE Technical Guidance Notes - https://www.emerald.com/books/book/19082/ICE-Manual-of-Bridge-Engineering
• ICE Manual of Bridge Engineering - https://www.emerald.com/books/book/19082/ICE-Manual-of-Bridge-Engineering
• SCI Bridges Initial Design - https://steelconstruction.info/Bridges_-_initial_design

-----

If you think you, or someone you know might make a great guest on the show please contact me through the contact form on my website or using the link below:

https://4bwygp9l.forms.app/form/69f067f6cb1e2bec183ace6f

Remember to like and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you'd like to leave a review head over to Podchaser via my website or at the link below:

https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/talkcivils-6461373?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast_page&action=rate

If you'd like to support the show and help me to deliver more great content please consider a donation through my website or at the link below:

Support this Podcast

For more updates between episodes or to join the conversation follow TalkCivils on:

LinkedIn - LinkedIn

Instagram - Instagram

-----

Riccardo is a Director in the Structures department at Tony Gee and Partners LLP, Chartered Structural Engineer, and Fellow of the IStructE. He has a wealth of experience in the design, check, and assessment of bridges from feasibility, through detailed design, to construction support, temporary works design, and project coordination. His input to numerous high profile schemes has been invaluable. Riccardo is a fountain of knowledge on all things structural engineering, and has generously and expertly supported the development of several generations of structural engineers. His ability to convey complex concepts in an accessible way is revered by his colleagues, and his enthusiasm for his craft is infectious.

Riccardo referenced several pieces of design guidance relating to the design of hybrid steel girders:

• SCI P432 - https://steel-sci.com/assets/downloads/High-Strength-Steel-and-Execution-Guide-P432.pdf
• IAPSE Paper: Stroscio, Ball, Udyanin, "Hybrid Steel Girders for Medium-Span Composite Highway Bridges" IBASE Congress, Ghent, 2025 - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/396667409_Hybrid_Steel_Girders_for_Medium-Span_Composite_Highway_Bridges
• Structural Steel for Bridges Guide P185 7th edition SCI Guidance Note 1.12 - https://steel-sci.com/steel-bridge-group-guidance-notes-on-best-practice-in-steel-bridge-construction.html
• NSC Magazine - https://www.newsteelconstruction.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/TechPaper/NSCJune2017tech.pdf

-----

If you think you, or someone you know might make a great guest on the show please contact me through the contact form on my website or using the link below:

https://4bwygp9l.forms.app/form/69f067f6cb1e2bec183ace6f

Remember to like and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you'd like to leave a review head over to Podchaser via my website or at the link below:

https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/talkcivils-6461373?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast_page&action=rate

If you'd like to support the show and help me to deliver more great content please consider a donation through my website or at the link below:

Support this Podcast

For more updates between episodes or to join the conversation follow TalkCivils on:

LinkedIn - LinkedIn

Instagram - Instagram

-----

Tara graduated from the University of Southampton with a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering. During her time as an undergraduate Tara was sponsored by Tony Gee and Partners where she also completed summer placement work experience and a year in industry. Tara now works full time as a consulting civil engineer in the Structures department at Tony Gee.

Bridges to Prosperity are now called Fika (as of January 2026) and you can find more information here:

https://fika.org/

There is also a New Civil Engineer article about the project Tara worked on. The photo of the bridge I show in the video version of this episode is taken from this site:

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/in-depth/how-bridges-to-prosperity-works-with-civil-engineering-organisations-to-build-trail-bridges-in-underdeveloped-countries-24-09-2025/

If you would like to contact Tara you can find her on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-sandiford-a0047319b/

-----

If you think you, or someone you know might make a great guest on the show please contact me through the contact form on my website or using the link below:

https://4bwygp9l.forms.app/form/69f067f6cb1e2bec183ace6f

Remember to like and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you'd like to leave a review head over to Podchaser via my website or at the link below:

https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/talkcivils-6461373?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast_page&action=rate

If you'd like to support the show and help me to deliver more great content please consider a donation through my website or at the link below:

Support this Podcast

For more updates between episodes or to join the conversation follow TalkCivils on:

LinkedIn - LinkedIn

Instagram - Instagram

My Website:

www.talkcivils.com | www.talkcivils.com/listen

Social Media:

https://talkcivils.com/youtube | https://talkcivils.com/instagram | https://talkcivils.com/linkedin