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This month, we are pleased to celebrate Jon Watkins’ 10-year work anniversary at Hawkins.
Since joining Hawkins in 2016, Jon has built an impressive reputation as a trusted expert investigator, expanding from his civil and structural engineering into a wide range of specialist disciplines. Over the past decade, he has investigated more than 700 cases, including fires, explosions, construction incidents, water ingress, foundation settlement and personal injury claims, leading investigations ranging from small domestic losses to complex multi-million-pound cases.
Throughout his time at Hawkins, Jon has continually developed his expertise, becoming a Chartered Engineer, gaining qualifications across fire investigation and building services disciplines, and becoming an A2 Certificate of Competence-certified drone pilot.
As Jon marks this significant milestone, we caught up with him to reflect on his journey so far.
What brought you to Hawkins?
I was originally recruited as part of our ever growing Civil & Structural Engineering department, which is now the Built Environment Team.
Having worked on large projects for multiple years, I was really looking forward to working on numerous small investigations with a high turnover of cases. One of the appeals was working independently on investigations and having responsibility for my own cases, where I could rely on my own ability and judgement to reach conclusions.
How has your role evolved over the last 10 years?
I have always sought to expand my expertise within Hawkins. I soon moved into fire investigation training, personal injury investigations, and agricultural incidents, drawing on experience gained across a range of disciplines. I love having a varied caseload and I really enjoy learning about niche topics as part of an investigation
If you could give advice to someone just starting at Hawkins, what would it be?
As a trainee investigator, be open to opportunities and new experiences whenever possible. The training scheme gives you the time and opportunity to explore different disciplines and areas beyond your immediate expertise. You may never have this same level of freedom and opportunity again, so make the most of it and grab it with both hands.
What are you looking forward to in the next year at Hawkins?
After three years as Regional Manager of the Glasgow Office, I am stepping down and returning to full-time casework. Whilst I have learned so much in this time, I am really looking forward to getting more opportunities to conduct investigations as my sole focus.
As Jon looks ahead to the next chapter of his Hawkins career, his enthusiasm for investigation and problem-solving remains as strong as ever. His technical expertise, commitment to professional development, and willingness to share his knowledge have made him a valued colleague and trusted expert for clients across the UK and beyond.
Congratulations, Jon, on reaching this fantastic 10-year milestone. Thank you for your dedication, expertise and contributions to Hawkins over the past decade. We look forward to seeing what the next 10 years bring.
