Contact our Sheffield office

As the founder of our Geotechnical and Geo-Environmental division, Jonathan Saunders has established Alan Wood & Partners as a leading consultant in the earthworks and foundations sector. With a wealth of experience on major projects, his expertise is in demand across the UK.

Jonathan joined Alan Wood & Partners in 2011 with the dual task of establishing the Geotechnical and Geo-Environmental division and our Sheffield office. Since then, the division has grown to a team of nine, and the Sheffield office has become the second largest in the company.

Jonathan graduated with a Degree in Geology in 1987, followed by a Masters Degree in Foundation Engineering in 1988, before career stints with Scott Wilson Group and Joynes, Pike & Associates.

During this time, he worked as the Geotechnical Engineer responsible for the foundation work for Chesterfield Football stadium and as the Resident Geotechnical Engineer for the A50 – the major trunk road linking Leicester and Warrington.

At Alan Wood & Partners, he was the Project Director on a £200m mixed use development at Brough in East Yorkshire, and completed the stabilisation of the cliff face beneath St Mary’s Church in Whitby, close to the famous Abbey Steps.

At Board level, Jonathan is responsible for HR and is known for his amiable and empathetic attitude towards those in his team and the across the entire company.

He is a Chartered Engineer, a Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and a Fellow of the Geological Society.

Highly experienced in all aspects of general engineering, James Shores specialises in complex temporary works. With a career spanning more than 20 years’ at Alan Wood & Partners, his innovative approach and dedication to his job, has seen him rise from Technician to Director, Board Member and Equity Partner.

After completing his studies in 2002, James joined Alan Wood & Partners.  Initially stationed in Hull, he later transitioned to our York office where he dedicated a decade to his work.

Leading the civil and structural division from the Sheffield office, he guides a team of fourteen engineers undertake a diverse range of projects, encompassing concrete, steel, and modular solutions across various sectors. The team also spearheads temporary works, benefitting from James' extensive experience in this realm.

Actively involved in every civil and structural project undertaken at the Sheffield office, he plays a pivotal role in guiding his team towards delivering exceptional results.

James is widely acknowledged in the industry for addressing intricate projects that demand meticulous and thoughtful engineering solutions. His approachable attitude and handling of projects in a professional and methodical manner have earned him recognition, ensuring optimal outcomes for both clients and staff.  His focus on maintaining long-term client relationships, having retained many clients for multiple years at Alan Wood & Partners.

Alongside his regional responsibilities, James’ is responsible for company insurance and information technology at Board level.

James is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Institution of Structural Engineers.

An expert in old and new, Jenny brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to Alan Wood & Partners. She plays a vital role in maintaining our culture of fostering the next generation.

Jenny’s areas of expertise span two opposite ends of the construction spectrum. As a Conservation Accredited Engineer, she provides a full range of surveys and design solutions for heritage & listed buildings, ancient monuments and is an expert on traditional construction methods.

At the other end of the spectrum, Jenny is highly knowledgeable in the area of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), providing design services to some of the UK’s largest modular construction businesses.  Jenny forged these two specialisations working in key roles prior to joining Alan Wood & Partners.

After some time as a research engineer for Corus, she joined a consultancy specialising in modular construction, which led to her amassing significant experience in the sector.

A subsequent move to NPS saw her provide design solutions to Wakefield Council across the Authority’s portfolio of historic buildings, enabling her to gather the experience and knowledge required to gain her conservation accreditation.

Jenny heads up the civils and structural team at our Sheffield office, in addition to her design responsibilities.  She is a strong advocate for creating an approachable culture in her team and encourages a learning environment.

Jenny is a Chartered Engineer,  Conservation Accredited Engineer and a Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers.

Graduating with a Civil Engineering degree laid the foundations for Sarah Roberts to develop a strong technical reputation. Her many achievements include developing key elements of the UK contaminated land management guidance, helping to ensure people and the environment are protected from toxins in soil and groundwater.

Sarah joined Alan Wood & Partners eight years ago and is now the Associate in the Geotechnical and Geo-Environmental department of our Sheffield office. She leads a team of seven engineers and engineering geologists who carry out a broad range of work from desk top studies to site investigation and remediation to complex geotechnical design.

In 2001, she completed a Master’s Degree in Contaminated Land Management which led to her working alongside some of the biggest names in the industry to develop key elements of the UK guidance on assessing and managing contaminated land, in particular the impact of soil toxicology on human health.

She has been recognised as an expert in her field is known for providing innovative, sustainable, solutions to managing land affected by contamination.

During her time at Alan Wood & Partners, Sarah has implemented a training program for her team, to help our Geo-Environment engineers to become professionally qualified in their chosen fields. Known for her approachable and understanding attitude, Sarah has a passion for developing the engineers of the future and sharing her own knowledge and experiences.

Sarah is a member of the Institution of Chartered Engineers and is a Chartered Environmentalist.

Debbie Atkinson has gained a deep understanding of the construction industry through a series of marketing and business development roles. She now plays an integral part in the ongoing growth of Alan Wood & Partners.

Debbie started her career in construction in 2006 when she joined the pre-construction team of a well-known main contracting business, supporting the pre-qualifications and tender process. From here, she became the Marketing Manager for the same business, eventually moving into Business Development to fulfil her ambition of being more client and consultant facing.

Within this role Debbie was responsible for developing and implementing business development and marketing strategies to support the overall business plan.  Specifically, she took charge of driving business development and marketing initiatives across the East of England, spanning regions such as North East, Humber, and Lincolnshire. Her role entailed identifying approximately £350 million in annual opportunities across diverse sectors, including health, education, commercial ventures, retail, public sector projects, civil engineering, and industrial and process industries.

Alongside this role, Debbie chaired the company’s charitable steering group and assisted with many of their CSR activities. She was involved in industry groups including Humber CATCH, the Humber Chamber of Commerce Business Peer Group, a member of the 4GoodFund Board (YORbuild Framework), representative at North East Process and Industrial Cluster forums and was the Company’s NEPO Civils Framework representative.

In 2022, Debbie joined Alan Wood & Partners as Lead on Business Development & Marketing, working with the Directors to develop and deliver the company’s business growth and CSR strategies.

Debbie qualified with a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in 2010, achieving the highest grade in the Humber region.

A Chartered Engineer, Peter Drenon joined Alan Wood & Partners in a business-change position to help drive the company forward. Over the past 12 years, he has played an integral role in achieving six-fold increase in turnover across the business.

Peter joined Alan Wood & Partners in 2012 after a varied and successful career spanning almost every aspect of the built environment.

A Chartered Engineer by training, he started his career with Cleveland Bridge in Darlington, moving on to work for developers, contractors, and building consultants. He has held Board level positions in global enterprises such as AECOM and WSP.

Peter continues to use the experience, knowledge and contacts to drive significant growth for Alan Wood & Partners. Over the course of his tenure, he has played a leading role in growing the business to six regional offices with an accompanying rise in turnover. He has spent many years bringing new engineers through the organisation and supported them during their careers.

Peter is known for his unwavering commitment to assisting clients, often going to great lengths to ensure their satisfaction. Additionally, he is recognised for his strong work ethic and dedication to his responsibilities.

He has been involved in numerous major projects during this career, including the iconic Humber Bridge and was the lead technical advisor to the lead lending bank, Deutsche Bank on the new Wembley Stadium.

Peter is a member of the Chartered Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) and sits on the Humber Bridge Board. He is also a long-term member of the local branch of the ICE.