Celebrating Our New Brand and Future Talent

Last week we launched our new brand globally, in conjunction with our financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 27, 2019. Hosted from our new European flagship office in London, it was the first time we’ve announced results outside of the U.S. in Jacobs’ history.

Chair and CEO Steve Demetriou spoke to CNBC Europe about our Q4 earnings, the launch of our new brand and how our transformed portfolio is focused on the secular trends of urbanization, climate change and resiliency, and the need to help address aging infrastructure, cyber security and national security, and build a better future.

Officially opening the new London office the following day, Jacobs President and COO Bob Pragada said: “We have developed from being a traditional engineering and construction provider and are now a team of multidisciplinary specialists ranging from civil and nuclear engineers, to economists, to cyber and digital specialists, to aquatic ecologists – a huge spectrum of capability.

“All around the world, we’re developing and delivering solutions focused on improving quality of life.”

Exploring skills of the future

A group of 16 to 18-year-old students from local partner schools, Pimlico Academy in Central London and School 21 in Stratford, joined the opening day and enjoyed a question and answer session and presentation from guest of honor, Professor Brian Cox OBE, where he talked about the skills they will need for the future and shared inspirational ideas for future infrastructure projects.

The students also joined in a lively, interactive hackathon – an event of intensive collaboration to solve a problem – led by EVP and COO Dawne Hickton and organized by Jacobs STEM Ambassador Louise Moore. U.K. STEM Learning Ambassador Dallas Campbell helped host the intensive, sprint-like collaboration session, which saw five teams of five students supported by our apprentices and subject matter experts, share ideas on how we can harness technology to enable us to live more inclusively in our workplaces and communities. Ideas included using apps to realize the diverse variety of skills and talent we have available, bringing our people together at inspiring and motivational events, and addressing communication barriers. The best idea will be presented to Jacobs’ Inclusion and Diversity Council.

A Jacobs team of leaders and employee network representatives concluded with a Question Time, where the students posed questions to them ranging from their thoughts on technology and engineering advances, to career journeys, overcoming obstacles, and what they enjoy doing outside of work.