In our most recent Team TPS spotlight post, we have Gareth Evans. Gareth joined the team towards the end of 2022 and it is his one-year TPS anniversary! Based in the North East, Gareth brings a wealth of experience to his role. Find out more…
What is your role at TPS and how long have you been here?
I’m a Principal Transport Planner, working primarily on our workplace and business engagement programmes across the UK and Ireland. I also get involved in various projects we have across the North East region which mostly covers our residential and academic travel plans.
Joined TPS in December 2022, so have just marked my one-year anniversary with the team (they say time flies when you’re having fun!) Prior to joining TPS, I’d worked in academia, facilities management (shopping centres), local authority before finally landing in the world of consultancy, so bring a range of insights into this role.
What do you get up to on a typical day at work?
As clichéd as it sounds, every day really is different. My week typically starts with a review of the previous week’s EV charging activity for one of our key clients. Then it could be anything from the more ‘standard’ tasks such as preparing a travel plan, report or strategy, reviewing changes to bus routes or timetables to update a travel guide or website, meeting with a client to discuss a new project. Or more ‘innovative’ tasks such as exploring options for expanding pool e-bikes, researching the latest developments in e-scooters and safety policy – the list goes on.
Tell us something that your connections might be interested to know about you?
One of my first interests was, and still is, maps. Staring at the London Underground map on the back of an A-to-Z in my parent’s car must’ve started it off and eventually led to me doing a PhD looking at ways to improve bus mapping – this was just before smartphones and Google Maps really came commonplace. What I love about the work we do is I get to apply this knowledge and passion to the day job – am often thinking of new mapping solutions to go into future travel guides!
What’s your favourite thing to have worked on in the last month?
I’ve recently completed a review and update of Northumbria University’s organisation-wide Travel Plan Strategy. This included producing an associated Travel Plan Statement for the future North East Space Skills & Technology Centre, a £50M investment into the North East region which is really exciting to see. To have played a (small) part in the planning and development of this new facility is fantastic.
How do you wind down out of work?
We adopted two kitten brothers earlier this year who keep us very busy and entertained. I do a bit of volunteering with the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership and Whitley Bay Round Table in my spare time. Am also a big foodie and enjoy finding and trying out new restaurants, related to this have recently caught the travel bug – went to Japan and Mala
ysia on honeymoon this year which was amazing, with a trip to Kenya on the cards in 2024.