Kay Denham
Kay Denham is Engineering Director for Galliford Try's Environment business, providing solutions internally and externally that meet the challenges faced in civil engineering today. She plays a key role in delivering the division’s 2030 Strategy, fostering strong stakeholder relationships and maintaining PAS 2080 certification.
When we launched GT5C in early 2024, it marked a bold new chapter for collaboration in the UK water industry.
Eighteen months later, I’m proud to say it’s not just delivering on its promise, it’s reshaping how we approach programme delivery as we move into AMP8.
GT5C, our partnership between Galliford Try and leading consultant designers AtkinsRéalis, WSP, Binnies, Sweco and GHD, was created to solve a fundamental challenge: How can we guarantee access to high-quality design expertise in a market facing unprecedented pressure?
At the time, ageing assets, climate change, regulation and population growth were all converging to demand innovation and capacity on a new scale. We knew a traditional delivery model wasn’t going to cut it.
Fast forward to today, and the results are tangible.
GT5C has embedded consistent design standards and shared digital frameworks across more than 60 active schemes nationwide.
Our 'UK-wide reach with a local approach' has been key, enabling us to move resources dynamically, balance demand between regions, and maintain high standards of service delivery wherever our clients need us most.
But what I’m most proud of is the culture that’s developed behind it.
From the outset, GT5C was about trust, openness and shared accountability. The common frameworks and digital environments we envisioned at launch have evolved into a living ecosystem of collaboration. Where once contractors and consultants worked in silos, we now operate as one integrated team.
And that’s where the real transformation happens - when boundaries dissolve, innovation follows.
As AMP8 gathers pace, the benefits are clear: We’re seeing measurable improvements in design quality and delivery efficiency, faster approvals, and more predictable outcomes for our clients. It’s a great example of how alignment and trust translate directly into performance.
For me, GT5C has proven that collaboration isn’t just about meetings or alignment sessions, it’s about embedding shared ownership into the DNA of delivery.
And beyond the water industry, I think there’s a wider lesson here. As UK infrastructure faces growing pressures from climate change, funding constraints and sustainability targets, models like GT5C show how strategic partnerships, backed by common digital tools and consistent governance, can unlock real resilience and value.
Eighteen months on, GT5C isn’t just a framework for AMP8, it’s a blueprint for how collaborative engineering can evolve to meet the challenges of a more connected, climate-conscious future. Keep an eye on our LinkedIn pages at Galliford Try to read some tangible soundbites around our success."