This month we caught up with Matthew Bell, CIBSE Yorkshire Region's Vice Chair.
Hello Matt, please tell us a bit about yourself. What interested you in building services engineering?
I’ve always been interested in the built environment and I initially read architecture at university, decided that it definitely was not for me and went to study something with a right answer, mechanical engineering! I had a brief time working as an engineer in other industries before the call of the built environment brought me back to me senses. Since then I’ve worked as an engineer and project manager for Wates Building Services and SES Engineering Services, volunteered for the regional CIBSE committee and achieved Member and Chartered status with CIBSE.
How did you first find out about the CIBSE Yorkshire Regional Committee?
The first job I worked on in Leeds, the Client’s consultant Lukasz sat on the regional committee and I was invited to a few CPD’s and met the other committee members by attending.
What motivated you to get involved in the committee?
I was late to the building services industry after working as an engineer automotive manufacturing following my studies, I knew I wanted to get back into the built environment and also to become a chartered engineer and because I was starting a bit later than most, CIBSE seemed like the most sensible place to expand my network and meet like-minded people
What was the first event you helped to organise?
The first event I helped organise was the CIBSE Yorkshire Awards in 2018. I was responsible for contacting previous and potential sponsors, which again was a great opportunity to speak to and meet new industry professionals. From there it felt natural to get involved in hosting CPD’s and other social events.
How has your role changed on the committee over time?
I first joined as a general committee member working with the Young Engineer’s Network and took the Yorkshire YEN chair role in 2018. I got to travel to Malaysia for the YEN chairs AGM in 2019 which was an amazing experience, meeting colleagues within the CIBSE YEN and also ASHRAE representatives. I held the title through to 2022 when I handed over to George Naylor the current Yorkshire YEN Chair and previous Vice Chair. My wife and I had a baby in 2022, so I took a bit of a break but stayed in touch with the committee and have since taken the Vice-Chair role for the Yorkshire Committee. The committee really lets you be involved as much as you want to, and there’s a natural progression to sit into the available roles as they become available.
What is the next big event in the Yorkshire region?
We have a YEN summer social in September hosted in Sheffield, details should be available shortly and then it’s the CIBSE Yorkshire Awards 24. A Dress to Impress event on the 22nd of November 24 and an opportunity for all Yorkshire Building Services professionals to showcase the amazing work the region has produced over the last couple of years.
How can members and non-members in the Yorkshire Region get involved?
Even if you don’t want to sit on the committee and be directly involved with the setting up of the events, the Awards evening will be a perfect place to get involved. We’re expecting some amazing applications for the awards this year. All you have to do is look around the region to see the quality of projects and engineers. The event is always a great networking opportunity, we’re expecting at least 350 people in attendance. We put in the work to bring events to the region, so our local engineers can benefit, all you need to do is turn up!
How ever much or little time you have to volunteer, whatever your skill set or stage of your career, there are numerous opportunities to get involved in volunteering at CIBSE search our volunteering opportunities.
You can learn more about the Yorkshire Region and the Yorkshire Young Engineer's Network on their dedicated pages.