Andy Pugh
Senior Principal Consultant
Programme Management – Cost Engineering Practice
Advisor to the IMechE (RSB)
As a Senior Principal Consultant, Andy supports the MOD in leading the development of business cases for the approval of new Defence equipment. He also manages the placement of TP Group consultants in suitable roles and the effective delivery of their outputs on the Equinox Delivery Framework, MOD’s largest framework for Project Delivery and Integrated Logistics functions.
With extensive experience of working on large Defence engineering programmes, including Dreadnought, Andy is an Advisor to the IMechE Regional Strategy Board (RSB), having been the Chairman for the past three and a half years.
What is the role of IMechE?
The IMechE supports its members and the wider engineering community to develop their skills throughout their careers by providing the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and innovate. Thanks to this, engineers and technicians are developing outstanding technical solutions to many global challenges, including striving for a more sustainable world.
What does your role as an Advisor to the IMechE (RSB) involve?
I advise current IMechE RSB leadership on how to enhance involvement of Regional Chairs in the RSB and recommend new strategies that will lead to more IMechE Members realising the various benefits of their membership via their region.
How did you get involved with IMechE?
From my personal experience I know the benefits of a career in engineering and the value in the workplace from Professional Engineer status; this has made me want to give something back. I began volunteering on a IMechE regional committee, which led to various leadership roles including the role of Regional Chairman for 3 years. This allowed me to gain a better understanding of what worked well (and not so well!) at a regional level. Based on this experience and with the various successful changes I implemented, I was invited to stand as a candidate in the elections for IMechE RSB Chair.
Why do you think this role is important?
Of its 115,000 global members, approx. 80,000 reside in the UK and the IMechE’s Headquarters is in Westminster, London. This strong UK presence is distributed across 16 IMechE regional committees, which are led by the IMechE RSB. Through their accessibility, these regions are often the main way for Members to get involved and obtain Member benefits. It is essential that these grassroots hubs are managed well and effectively supported so that members can receive value from their subscription; develop their skills as professionally registered engineers; and have a way of providing a societal benefit through their skills.
What do you feel you bring to the role?
Enthusiasm in wanting to see the IMechE provide a second to none offering to its member; an understanding gained over many years of the type of value offering the IMechE should be providing to its Members; and IMechE and wider professional experience of how to implement this.
How does TP Group support you in role?
TP Group has been hugely supportive of my role in the IMechE, allowing me time in my working day, around client work priorities, to Chair RSB meetings and now advise its formal leadership. TP Group will often cover my costs for those events not covered by the IMechE, including travel and accommodation.
TP Group is also keen to be actively involved at a company level, for example it was willing to be filmed and interviewed at an ‘away-day’ in support of an IMechE Regions Promotional Video.
Gee Rosewarne 
Maritime Account Lead
Ambassador for UKNEST
Gee joined TP Group in 2023 after a career as a Civil Servant working as a Project Manager for DE&S and later as a Senior Consultant for Frazer-Nash. Her last role was as the Programme Manager of the Lot 6 Serapis framework for Dstl. Gee’s previous experience gave her a strong grounding for her role at TP Group fostering strong and enduring customer relationships and forging strong business to business connections with other defence companies within the naval sector.
What is the role of UKNEST?
UKNEST (UK Naval Engineering, Science and Technology) promotes the Engineering, Science and Technology interests of UK Naval Defence. They promote careers in the naval sector through STEM engagement, scholarships and publications. It encourages early career professionals, known as ‘FutureNEST’ to develop their knowledge and understanding of the sector through networking, site visits and getting involved in early concept work.
What does your role as an Ambassador for UKNEST involve?
My role as a UKNEST Ambassador is to promote UKNEST in the defence community but also to ensure that any of the work undertaken by TP Group, which can be beneficial to the engineering profession, is collectively shared to achieve our common goal of improving Defence for all.
How did you get involved with UKNEST?
As a science and technology consultancy, TP Group were already supportive members of non-for-profit UKNEST and they quickly became an invaluable source of information, enabling me to make key connections in other businesses and the Submarine Delivery Agency. Building on this relationship and as the Maritime Lead it was a natural step to become the UKNEST Ambassador for the business as their work and business ethos aligns closely with both my professional and personal values.
Why do you think this role is important?
UKNEST works across the Naval Enterprise to provide thought leadership and a forum for new ideas, collaborative opportunities and technology transfer. They ensure that the best of the learning and experience is shared between industry and government in a collaborative forum, so that we can help each other to improve.
One of the most rewarding elements of the role is the huge part UKNEST plays in inspiring and helping the younger generations get involved in STEM careers, ensuring that the future of Defence remains in capable hands.
What do you feel you bring to the role?
Personally, I am very invested and enthusiastic about the Ambassador role, and together with my colleagues I am always looking for opportunities to get further involved. I recently assisted with the scholarship selection process, and am excited to continue to work with UKNEST in the future.
How does TP Group support you in role?
TP Group is very supportive of my involvement and allow me to work these duties into my normal daily role.
Working within a S&T environment I see at first hand the importance of nurturing and supporting the development of the next generation of engineers in the naval sector, and TP Group has been able to offer some case studies to support the work that FutureNEST (the next generation of engineers) is undertaking.
I look forward to continuing this role and further developing the relationship with UKNEST.
James Sands
Consultant
Systems & Supportability Engineering Practice
Committee Member, IET (South-East Wales)
As a Consultant in the Systems & Supportability practice, James provides systems engineering support to meet the diverse needs of our clients. This can include utilising Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to manage complexity / improve understanding; applying engineering best practice to produce safe, compliant and high-quality solutions; and leveraging project management skills to deliver on time and at cost.
James is a Chartered Engineer with considerable experience in delivering technology solutions across the defence and pharmaceutical sectors. Having previously worked in industry designing and delivering TEMPEST (RF) systems to the MOD and UK Government. James has experience across the whole spectrum of project lifecycles, from requirements definition through to, design, manufacture, test and in-service support.
What is the role of the IET?
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a global membership organisation that inspires, informs and influences the engineering and technology community. It offers journals, events, a library, archives and training services to its 156,000 members across 148 countries.
What does your committee role with the IET (South-East Wales) involve?
My commitment involves attending monthly committee meetings and supporting the organisation of local talks and events. Most recently I, along with others from the committee, hosted a Professional Registration Event in Cardiff where engineers of all levels could come and get advice on becoming professionally registered (e.g. Chartered, Incorporated Engineering, Engineering Technician).
How did you get involved with the IET?
I became involved through a colleague at TP Group who introduced me to the committee. Initially I volunteered to support my application to become a Chartered Engineer but long after achieving this, I have found myself becoming more and more active in the role as I enjoy engaging and giving something back to the local engineering community.
Why do you think this role is important?
The IET is a professional organisation that supports engineers and technicians by providing resources, networking opportunities and professional development. It promotes engineering excellence, innovation and ethical practices through standards, publications, events and training programmes.
I enjoy supporting this mission at a local level and advocating for the role of engineering in addressing future challenges.
What do you feel you bring to the role?
My enthusiasm to ‘get stuck in’! I really enjoy working with my colleagues on the committee who all have diverse engineering backgrounds. Some work in education and others in industries which I’d normally have limited interaction with. This sparks some great conversation, networking opportunities and enables us to put on some interesting events for the community.
How does TP Group support you in the role?
TP Group are very supportive of my role, allowing me to work flexibly to accommodate my travel and attendance at events. We’ve even had a few TP Group colleagues attend events - which has been great fun!
