The network has undergone an extensive election process for chair and vice chair and is looking to the future
The BCIA Young Engineers Network (YEN) supports engineers under the age of 35, providing learning, peer-to-peer support, and networking.
Yen focuses specifically on roles within the building energy management systems (BEMS) industry.
Josh Steel and Stan Thomas are the new respective chair and vice-chair
Josh Steel comes from Electracom, where he served as sales manager in the support division, and Stan Thomas comes from Sontay Ltd, acting as the UK South sales manager.
Josh Steel has over a decade of experience in BEMS and brings that expertise to the role of chair of the BCIA Young Engineers Network.
He worked as a BMS electrical installer before becoming a BMS sales engineer, and then sales manager.
Steel said: “For those that know me, know how much I love this industry, it is a great privilege to be able to give something back to the engineers of our future, and I am honoured to head up this great Network for Young Engineers in the BEMS industry.
“Having attended the very first BCIA YEN event, I knew from that day that it had the potential to be something special and I instantly wanted to get involved and share my ideas and visions of what it could be. As Chair, my aim is to grow and develop the YEN, helping to increase awareness so that everyone knows about it and has access to it.”
Stan Thomas comes from a background specialising in HVAC and BMS, with a particular focus on sustainability, efficiency, and seamless integration for smart buildings.
Thomas said: “Having found my path into the BEMS sector somewhat by chance, I’m now committed to building a robust YEN community that not only attracts but also retains young talent through a network grounded in shared knowledge, professional growth, and community.
“My goal is to build a vibrant, well-connected, and empowered YEN, supporting the growth of our industry from the ground up. By leveraging my role at Sontay and my industry contracts, I aim to connect YEN and BCIA more closely, creating a supportive network that promotes mentorship and knowledge-sharing across generations.”
BCIA president Stacey Lucas said: “Stan and Josh were both superb candidates with YEN members selecting their new leadership to take the YEN forward. They bring incredible expertise and drive to the YEN and we look forward to working alongside them in the years to come.
“There is an incredible depth of young talent in the industry and the YEN is a vital way of nurturing and encouraging that talent through knowledge-sharing and growing a supportive network.”
A bright outlook for future engineers
The BCIA recently published a report looking at BEMS market performance, with data in Q3 2024 showing a 3.2% increase year-on-year, up to £854m. This aligns with a growing demand for smart buildings to tackle excessive energy consumption.
The BCIA Young Engineers Network also recently held an event for young engineers, allowing them to gain first-hand experience with decarbonisation technologies at the University of Bradford (UoB).
The UoB is currently working through a Salix-funded decarbonisation project worth £4m, aiming to provide a sufficient heat load to buildings while prioritising energy savings.
The YEN members were given a tour and walked through the UoB’s plans, as well as seeing how they are already utilising sustainable solutions. This was followed by a discussion with members of staff, focusing on the industry as a whole and academic partnerships.
Kate O’Donnell, the UK business development manager at E.ON Controls, said: “We recently had the fantastic opportunity to visit the University of Bradford. The visit gave the young engineers a unique chance to explore cutting-edge research and innovative practices shaping the future of our field.
“This visit left us energised and excited about the future of construction engineering. Let’s keep building these valuable connections and investing in the next generation of leaders!”
