March Spotlight: Hiring in Leeds

Welcome to the March edition of Blakely Brown Insights!

Spring is in the air, and with it, exciting growth on both sides of the Atlantic.

This month, we’re excited to share updates on our UK expansion, fresh insights into U.S. infrastructure funding, and our top tips for engineers preparing to take the next step in their careers. Whether you’re hiring, interviewing, or just keeping a pulse on industry shifts, there’s something in here for you.

Read on for the latest updates and industry insights!

Warm regards, The Blakely Brown Team

Leeds Office Expansion

While our U.S. journey continues to gain momentum with the launch of our Miami office, we’re equally focused on growing our roots right here in the UK. This month marks an exciting milestone as we kick off our internal hiring drive for new consultants to join the team at our Leeds office.

Leeds is already a special place in the Blakely Brown story: our Co-Founders first met whilst working together there, so expanding our presence in the city feels like both a homecoming and a natural next step. We’re now looking for driven, ambitious individuals to help us open up new markets and strengthen our UK operations.

New hires will work alongside our established consultants, learning from a high-performing team and contributing to the next phase of Blakely Brown’s growth in the UK and beyond.

If you, or someone you know, might be a great fit for the team, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at antonia@blakelybrowngroup.com to learn more.

Cuts to U.S. Construction Spending

On March 11th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through September 30, 2025. The bill includes $13 billion in cuts to nondefense spending, impacting key construction-related programs, notably:

• $1.4 billion cut from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil projects

• $2 billion cut from transportation safety projects

While the resolution passed the House narrowly (217–213), its fate in the Senate remains uncertain, with bipartisan support required to avoid a government shutdown by March 14. The bill has received criticism from some Democrats, while others signal support to prevent disruption.

Key Takeaways for Engineers:

1. Infrastructure Project Delays Likely Cuts to the Corps of Engineers and transportation safety programs may delay or downsize planned infrastructure and civil engineering projects, especially in water management and road safety sectors.

2. Increased Competition for Federal Work With reduced federal funding, firms may face stiffer competition for fewer available contracts. Engineers may need to diversify their skill sets or pivot toward private-sector or state-funded opportunities.

3. Volatility in Public Sector Work This is another reminder of how political decisions can affect the stability of federally funded engineering projects—be prepared for uncertainty in government-backed work.

Key Takeaways for Recruiters:

1. Shift Focus to Private Sector Clients With federal project budgets being trimmed, demand may soften in public sector hiring. Consider pivoting efforts toward private development, renewable energy, or tech-aligned engineering sectors.

2. Expect a Talent Rebalance Engineers impacted by government project slowdowns may enter the job market—creating opportunities to place experienced candidates with private firms.

3. Advise Clients on Market Shifts Educate hiring managers on the current funding climate and encourage proactive hiring strategies, especially in areas where federal cuts may cause labor shifts or shortages.

Interview Tips for Engineers

Got an interview coming up? Whether you’re stepping into your first engineering role or preparing for a senior-level opportunity, how you present yourself during the interview can make all the difference. In today’s competitive market, technical knowledge alone isn’t enough - you also need to communicate your experience clearly, show how you add value to the team, and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role.

To help you prepare, we’ve put together a list of practical, easy-to-apply tips that will boost your confidence and ensure you leave a lasting impression.

1. Understand the role and project scope Before the interview, take time to thoroughly understand the job description, key responsibilities, and the types of projects the company typically works on. This shows you’ve done your research and helps tailor your responses to what they’re looking for.

2. Brush up on technical knowledge Be ready for technical questions or practical problems related to your discipline (e.g., land development, water resources, MEP, surveying). Review past projects, design codes, software tools (e.g., AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit), and prepare to explain your decision-making process.

3. Practice STAR-format responses Use the Situation – Task – Action – Result format to answer behavioral questions clearly. Focus on how you approached challenges, collaborated with others, and delivered results on past projects.

4. Know your resume inside out Interviewers will often dive into specific details from your resume. Be prepared to speak confidently about every line - particularly accomplishments, software proficiencies, and project involvement.

5. Ask thoughtful questions Prepare 2 or 3 questions that show genuine interest in the company or role. Ask about team structure, growth opportunities, or upcoming projects. It demonstrates curiosity and helps you assess if the role is right for you.