We’re incredibly motivated to reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry. I believe my business is the first to apply generative design techniques for load bearing elements of mainstream buildings and we aim to apply advanced optimisation tools to volume manufacturing.

Alumnus Jonathan Evans, owner and CEO of Ash and Lacy

Jonathan has been a serial inventor and entrepreneur since graduating. He read Engineering (Electrical and Information Sciences Tripos) and completed his PhD at Churchill College between 1990-1995.

What inspired you into your field?

I needed no inspiration. I was always fascinated with how things worked and taking things apart as a boy. They didn’t always go back together quite as easily. I suppose that fascination was encouraged by my grandfather who was an electrical engineer and used to teach me about electronics and how to solder etc. My daughters have kept a family tradition going of at least 5 generations of engineers.

How did your career develop?

Somewhat unusually. The recession of the early 1990’s prevented me from joining the Ford Motor Company who had sponsored me through University, but instead they were able to fund me to do a PhD. During my PhD I invented a new type of power semiconductor manufacturing process and in those days, it was possible to negotiate ownership of the intellectual property which I did. I licensed that technology and it went on to produce over a billion devices over the next couple of decades. However, it somewhat skewed my career path and I decided to go and buy a metal manufacturing business in the Midlands, rather than effectively compete with the technology I had just licensed. This then led me towards the construction sector, where I’ve been mostly occupied since although our presence in the automotive and aerospace sectors is growing.

Have you had a career-defining moment?

When I was sitting in an airport watching the Grenfell Tower fire develop, I said “this has just changed my life”, and it really did. When you work in manufacturing, particularly where rotating machinery and heavy material handling is involved, safety is always a priority. I have always been determined that nobody would be killed or seriously injured in a business that I ran. After the Grenfell fire, I extended that thinking to the products we make and I have campaigned hard on behalf of my sector for stronger regulation of building materials. When you have a PhD in semiconductor engineering and somebody tries to convince you that preventing fires like Grenfell is highly complicated, I tend to have very little patience. 

The Grenfell Inquiry highlighted a systemic problem with our Regulatory system in the lack of continuity and expertise at ministerial level. Whilst being bombarded with conflicting opinions from commercial organisations, the Fire and Rescue Services are generally regarded as an independent, unbiased source of advice. However, every organisation has its own agenda, whether knowingly or not and the fire and rescue services have so far refused to support further restrictions on the use of combustible materials that have been vocally demanded by the public (as evidenced by consultation responses). They are understandably more focused on fighting fires effectively than extinguishing themselves by totally preventing fires. I sat in a regulatory meeting where a former fighter said ‘there’s no need to make buildings non-combustible because we will rescue them’. Some memories are short, but not those who’ve lost a loved one.

There continues to be much heated but much needed debate within industry regarding the relative benefits of using various construction materials, but what is hard to dispute is that the less material you choose to use, the better.

What contribution to your field are you most proud of and why?

I’m told that evidence I provided to the Treasury was crucial in persuading it to extend the Building Safety Fund to cover the remediation of buildings covered with cladding other than just the type used on the Grenfell Tower. I’ve also spent a lot of time helping residents in tower blocks understand the predicaments they are in, as well as advising them on how to make claims on their building insurance policies for breach of regulations. Being an entrepreneur who isn’t accountable to anybody, I can freely speak my mind although the threat of litigation from the manufacturers of products that would lose out if we improve fire safety is always a concern.

What do you see as being the next big thing in your field?

We’ve reached some major milestones on fire safety in construction, so my mind has been able to focus more recently on frankly more positive and creative opportunities. Digitalisation is a huge challenge for the construction industry and we’re investing heavily in design and manufacturing automation. When every product you make is potentially unique that can be a difficult problem. We’re also incredibly motivated to reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry. I believe my business is the first to apply generative design techniques for load bearing elements of mainstream buildings and we aim to apply advanced optimisation tools to volume manufacturing.

What is the best career decision you’ve made?

I don’t think I’ve really made any career ‘decisions’, in the same way that I don’t really think my business has a ‘plan’. I approach both with a ‘philosophy’. I’ve come to realise that most things in business can be assessed against three objectives – Pride, Strength and Impact. You can interpret that however you choose. I don’t take huge risks – I don’t think they’re necessary and possibly mutually exclusive for having a happy career. I’m not a believer like Lewis Hamilton that anybody can achieve anything because not everyone can. It’s a dangerous dream to sell. I don’t even try to persuade friends to set up their own businesses. There are lots of upsides, but it’s not for everybody and it can be a lonely place to be, especially when you don’t know what you’re doing. You have to learn quickly to surround yourself with people that compensate for your own deficiencies. Not everybody succeeds in that.

What is your advice for someone considering a career in engineering?

Focus on the ‘Impact’ aspect as you’ll always be motivated and in demand. Don’t worry too much about doing something cool like being in Formula 1. Doing something good is always better.