JOHN CORCORAN | INTERVIEW
Early in 2024, the Committee held a
workshop to develop a five-year mission strategy. “After many hours of debate, we homed
in on several key areas to focus on. One of the main ones was to be able to influence the decision-makers in construction of infrastructure, to be able to give them the right message about how we do what we do. We do have links into government, but it is about trying to get the best out of those links to promote our industry and give decision-makers confidence to construct new tunnels. “Getting consent to start big projects is
very difficult. It can be very expensive as well. We are not so good in this country at just getting on with things. We have a lot of hoops to jump through, so you could be on a huge spend before you’ve even put a spade in the ground. “Wherever possible we should try to
integrate tunnel construction with the follow-on trades, such as casting of tunnel inverts and installation of mechanical and electrical equipment. This requires a lot of planning and collaboration with follow-on trades, but tunnellers, by their very nature, are good at long-term planning. “Another thing that I am very keen on is
integrating the BTS Young Members into the main membership and onto the main Committee. At November’s Committee meeting, Arabel Vilas Serin, the Chair of the Young Members’ Committee, gave a terrific presentation on what they hope to achieve and what their goals are. It’s like a football team, you need that blend of youth and experience.” A feedback comment from the BTS Health
& Safety Course last year considered a blend of experience and young presenters to work very well - “this was the talk on compressed air working.” He adds: “Young people look at things
differently, and often ask, ‘Why has it always been done that way?’ That, coupled with energy and open minds is a great way to innovate and improve our industry.” Another big theme from the five-year
strategy workshop was Net Zero. “Richard Sutherland is heading up
a working group, getting people from throughout the industry so that the BTS can act as a focal point. It is starting to take shape. The idea is that the BTS can give guidance and act as a conduit, getting feedback from clients, contractors, designers, and other industries to formulate a vision and promote best practice. What
been a couple of cases of electric vehicles combusting, so there definitely needs to be some guidance and some joined-up thinking on that. It is great to see new members like that on the Committee with initiative, energy, and ideas.” He likes being busy - “at work and also in
my spare time.” John adds, “I like nothing more than being
out in the garden and get great pleasure out of simple things, such as the rose cuttings I took from my daughter’s garden. These are now starting to sprout leaves. I don’t quite talk to these cuttings, but they are in my thoughts, and I look at them several times a day. “I’ve always like keeping fit. I’ve run around
Above: “Another great passion for me is walking. Every year I plan a route with a few of my mates...” A photo from the Peak District
16 marathons but that is curtailed due to a hip replacement. This has not, however, stopped me from taking part in triathlons. I’ve done the London Triathlon Olympic distance for the past 20 years and will compete again this year. It’s a great event and I really enjoy cycling down the A13 into London, with no cars on the roads. Sadly, my days of achieving personal bests are behind me.
a wonderful target that is, for both the Society, the industry, and our planet. “Another thing that’s we’re looking at is
the BTS Constitution, including how we can integrate the young members into the main Committee. The intent is to try and make us as efficient as possible, so we don’t get bogged down in too much bureaucracy; but having said that, for the last fifty years I think that the BTS has worked pretty well. I think the membership fee is remarkably good value. “We run the Health & Safety Course and
also the Design and Construction course, and both are fantastic.” He adds, “We are trying to tap into the industry on that as much as possible, and to get more and more people involved, young and old. We are trying to continually improve and to bring in fresh ideas. “For example, we conducted industry
review of what they required from the annual Health & Safety Course. We subsequently introduced new topics and new speakers… bringing in fresh ideas and spreading the word about how good the BTS training courses are. And, it is great experience for the new presenters as well. Win-win, I think they call it. “Another good initiative has been
instigated by Nick Lock, who joined the Committee in 2024. He is setting up a group to look at fire safety and tunnels. There have
“I also like playing guitar and have been
known in the past to sign the odd song. Nowadays all the planets need lining up before I sing – my voice is not great, but I make up for it with enthusiasm. “Another great passion for me is walking.
Every year I plan a route with a few of my mates, where we spend several days walking through country, staying at different places each night. There’s nothing better than arriving in a new town, tired from all day walking in the hills. Find a nice pub with accommodation, get a wash and change, then down for a few beers. This year we are going to Northumberland and will spend a night on Holy Island. “I’m extremely proud to be Chair of the
BTS. It has taken me quite some time to actually believe I now hold that position. For many years I looked up to previous Chairs with huge admiration. I’ve received great support from all Committee members and also many of my colleagues in the tunnelling industry. I am also extremely grateful to be able to draw upon the experience of many of the past BTS Chairs. “So now I’m here, I hope to encourage
feedback from our members, to continually review and improve what we do, encourage and support that blend of youth and experience, encourage a greater range of people to apply for and join the Committee, and finally, to have some fun doing it.”
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