Whitby Wood is a design-focused engineering practice built around people, sustainability and technology. It has developed an organisational structure and approach that encourages interaction and communication through the business and ensures that no knowledge or expertise is "siloed".
Founded in 2016 by Sebastian Wood and Mark Whitby, the practice has grown quickly, enabled by long-standing relationships with other engineers who shared their values.
Over the past 12 months, Whitby Wood's staff has grown from 55 to 70 people. Key to the team's success is a commitment to one another. The company has a lean business model as a result of the in-house development of engineering and business software systems.
It stages an annual "birthday meeting" at which a bottom-up business plan is created for the following year. Several initiatives have been implemented by the in-house diversity and inclusion group, including a focus on community engagement and supporting anti-racist charities. All staff are on lifestyle-flexi working and they hot-desk on a single office floor.
Another floor is dedicated to break-out space for meetings, weekly yoga sessions, continual professional development seminars, lunch and after-work activities.
The company has applied for B Corp status and is required to consider its impact on workers, community and the environment. All staff are passionate about making a positive impact. Annual meetings take place to discuss and agree their "values and anti-values" as a business.
