Team

Andrew Horton first started in the construction industry more than 30 years ago. After completing an ONC in civil engineering at the CITB centre in Norfolk, he went on to complete an honours degree in civil engineering at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University. Sponsored by a large contractor, Andrew also gained valuable experience at the ‘coal face’, including 18 months as a site engineer on multi-million-pound projects in London and Wales.

He has 25 years’ design office experience on various refurbishment and conversion work projects, as well as new-build domestic and commercial properties. Andrew has a passion for practical problem solving whether utilising the latest sophisticated analysis software or traditional design methods to deliver sympathetic and pragmatic solutions. Andrew is a member of Institution of Civil Engineers and is a certified member of the Association for Project Safety (CMaPS) overseeing the company’s CDM duties.

Away from the office, engineering and checked shirts, Andrew loves a digger and any old bits of machinery. He is currently extending and renovating an old barn into a family home for his wife and daughter. Andrew also likes to watch rugby, ride motorbikes, the very occasional (annual) round of golf and more checked shirts!

Ross Carpenter has worked for PCA since 2006 after spending a short spell with Sir Robert McAlpine, which gave him a real taste for building, design and engineering. Ross has extensive experience on site and in the design office working on a diverse array of residential, commercial and historic projects. He became a director in 2018.

Working largely in Devon and Cornwall, Ross is renowned for his connections with local contractors and his excellent service. Some interesting projects have led him further afield across the country where our expertise has been require.

He has a particular interest in bespoke domestic schemes, such as coastal properties located in challenging topography, and conservation engineering where preserving, strengthening and often modernising historic buildings requires a sensitive and logical approach.

Aside from running a water sports business in Salcombe in tandem with his early days at PCA, Ross continues partake in water sports and spending time on his boat with his family, especially now they are old enough to enjoy the sea too. When he is not driving his three kids to their numerous clubs, Ross runs with his dog Helix (also the office dog), takes part in what he calls “old man’s basketball”, and enjoys enduro off-road motorcycling very occasionally.

Having completed a business degree at Cardiff University, Sophia Darke joined PCA Consulting Engineers in March 2005 as PA to one of the directors, and subsequently took over as office manager in 2007.

Sophia is now our finance director, responsible for the financial, HR, and administrative management within the company. She oversees payroll, credit control and all other day-to-day accounting duties. All those lever arch folders and numbers do not make Sophia a dull girl though! She is also chief party planner for all company social occasions.

Away from the office, Sophia is kept busy looking after her two daughters and lending a hand on her parents’ farm. She is a long-term supporter of Kingsbridge RFC and organises an annual fundraiser at High House called Scrummies attended by rugby-loving women like her.

Paul Carpenter has more than 40 years’ structural and conservation engineering experience both on site and as a consultant. He has developed an expertise in the sympathetic and practical structural design and repair of old buildings and works with conservation bodies throughout England including the National Trust, English Heritage, The Landmark Trust, Historic England, National Park Authorities and Conservation Officers.

Paul is a member of the Society of Preservation of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), an affiliate member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), has lectured on the ‘Role of Engineers in Conservation’ and was appointed as the specialist structural consultant for the Exeter Diocesan Advisory Committee in March 2009. Recently, he has enhanced his conservation qualifications by being included on the Conservation Accreditation Register for Engineers (CARE).

His work has included advising on various National Trust and English Heritage properties including, St Michael’s Mount, Killerton House, Lanhydrock, Godolphin, Coleton Fishacre, Overbecks and Berry Pomeroy Castle, as well as numerous churches, historic mansions, forts, houses and cottages.

Grandfather to nine and father to four, Paul is a handy man to know as a skilled DIY enthusiast. He also loves walking and old cars.

Colin Souch has more than 30 years’ experience as an innovative structural designer having worked on a diverse of range projects from nuclear decommissioning through to conservation and maritime structures with commercial, industrial, residential and educational developments of various sizes and complexities. Colin has particular interests in building conservation, traditional timber framed buildings and ecologically led forms of construction.

Having grown up in Somerset, Luke graduated from the University of Plymouth with a BEng (Hons) in civil and coastal engineering in 2015 and joined PCA in November of that year.

Luke has worked on a diverse range of projects including small residential alterations, restoration and conversion of listed buildings, large new-build developments and bespoke domestic schemes. He was also involved in the award-winning project on Woolsery, which began with renovating the pub, but went on to encompass the manor house and village shop. Since then, he has continued to work on larger, more complicated projects.

Luke has a particular interest in computer analytics and design of structures using a variety of software packages including Tekla Structural Designer Robot Structures and IDEA StatiCa connection designer.

Away from the office, when he isn’t working on his house, Luke likes getting outside: climbing, mountain-biking, mountain-unicycling, paddle-boarding or walking his pointer-setter-cross called Sedge.

Scott Doswell graduated from the University of Southampton in 2012 with a BEng (Hons) in civil engineering but having taken a job as teaching assistant before heading to university, he decided to become a teacher.

Having spent five years teaching mathematics at Kingsbridge Community College, he joined PCA in 2018 after meeting up with Andrew and Harrison at the school’s careers fair.

The father-of-two does not have a lot of time for himself but does enjoy some “on and off” running and ran the Britain’s Ocean City Half Marathon in Plymouth in 2021 and ran 50 miles in October 2023 for Prostate Cancer Research. For a real treat, Scott indulges himself with a trip to watch the mighty Torquay United.

Charlotte Spreckley graduated from the University of Plymouth in 2022 with an MEng (Hons) in civil engineering and joined PCA in July of the same year after a successful summer placement with the firm the year before.

With a keen interest in building conservation and sustainable design, Charlotte is hoping to follow in Paul Carpenter’s footprints and gain CARE accreditation.

Aside from being a qualified welder at 15 years old (we kid you not), she has a Gold DofE Awards and would have had plenty of skills to choose from to achieve this. She dances the Lindy Hop, plays the double bass in an orchestra, and is a keen walker.

Back at home, Charlotte and her boyfriend look after their cat called Mouse and Magnus the tortoise.

Tim Little started working at PCA in 2014 and now heads up the CAD department having completed his HNC in civil engineering in 2018.

His dad worked at Babcock and knew someone who was willing to give him tuition in AutoCAD. He has built on these skills to become an expert in AutoCAD and Revit software.

Tim became hooked on surfing after carrying out lifeguard training at Bantham. He loves being on the beach and is also a keen paddle-boarder, mountain biker and runner.

Robert Covey is one of our structural technicians, having originally learned about design software used in the industry by shadowing his father (who works as an architect). With AutoCAD skills under his belt, he was ready for life at PCA.

The regular tie-wearer of the office, away from work, Robert is a motorcyclist and likes to take to the open road.

He is also a keen hiker and has scaled both Ben Nevis and Snowdon. Robert has been known to go on long walks with some of his PCA colleagues.

Having left school in July 2016, Harrison joined the CAD department a month later. Keen on drawing, especially technical drawing, he grabbed this opportunity and decided against starting a university course in interior design.

Away from design software, Harrison Ward used to play football for Salcombe Town FC, but is now more of a tennis and mountain bike man: he also likes to take his speedboat out in the waters around the South Hams and dabbling in a bit of water-skiing.

A self-confessed hobbyist, movies and music are also on Harrison’s list, plus a love of old cars, with a few questionable purchases along the way!

One of our awesome PAs, Linda Capon has extensive office management and secretarial experience, along with several relevant qualifications, having worked in a variety of roles. She joined PCA in October 2007 and now looks after our non-executive director and conservation engineering expert Paul Carpenter.

Linda’s life is packed to the gills away from the office! A keen cold-water swimmer, she loves a dip in local rivers or the sea. Her advice for warming up after a swim? A changing robe, a woolly hat, a hot chocolate….and cake, always cake!

She also plays tennis, enjoys amateur dramatics, tending to her allotment, and catching up with her 12 grandchildren.

Tina swapped working as a negotiator and PA for a South West-based estate agent to join PCA in 2012 where she now is PA to director Andrew Horton.

After growing up in the South Hams, Tina attended Bournemouth University then travelled to Brazil, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and India before settling into working life.

Now a mum to one daughter, Tina enjoys paddle-boarding, sea swimming, and growing fruit and vegetables in her garden. She is also on the organising committee for Kingsbridge Celebrates Christmas..

Esther completes our PA team returning to full-time work in May 2022. Aside from looking after director Ross Carpenter, she expertly cares for the office plants! A passion for science led to her first job in horticultural research and then international medical sales and marketing, which fulfilled her wish to travel.

Before PCA, she juggled her own working life in retail and hospitality with bringing up her three children. She moved to Devon from Shakespeare country, after falling in love with the county on family trips to the South West.

Aside from the usual sea activities favoured by many members of the team, she likes walking her two dogs, spending time with her family and friends, and enjoying cultural breaks.

Having previously worked in a variety of administrative roles, Lesley joined PCA in February 2014.