Bruton Knowles Announces Key Internal Promotions to Strengthen Utilities and Infrastructure Team
Theresa Tschainer, May Beaney and Helen McLeod-Baikie
National surveying firm Bruton Knowles is continuing its strategic push across key service lines with a wave of internal promotions, including three appointments to Partner level, following its most successful financial year to date.
The latest round of promotions is heavily weighted towards the National Utilities and Infrastructure (U&I) Team, which has been undergoing a steady transformation under new leadership. The recent appointment of Giles Lister to head up the department signals Bruton Knowles’ intent to strengthen its market presence, and the latest internal moves now cement that direction.
Two of the new Partners, May Beaney and Theresa Tschainer, are part of that U&I team. May joined as a graduate in 2013 and has built a reputation over more than a decade as a reliable fee earner and mentor to junior colleagues. Theresa, by contrast, joined more recently in 2024 but has quickly established herself as a proactive force within the team, bringing technical knowledge and leadership acumen to complex infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, Helen McLeod-Baikie has been promoted to Partner in the Public Sector Valuation team after joining the business just last year. Her remit on arrival was to establish Bruton Knowles’ national presence within the public sector valuations market. Along with achieving that, Helen has also helped led her team to exceed a £1 million revenue target, which in the current market is a formidable result.
Elsewhere in the U&I team, several new senior titles reflect a steady elevation of operational capability. Adam Taylor has been promoted to Senior Land Rights Manager, less than two years after joining. A well-rounded operator with strong client handling skills, he’s seen as a role model within the team. Adam Blenkarn also steps up, becoming Senior Land Referencing Manager just a year after arriving as a Senior Land Rights Officer.
There’s also movement among early-career professionals, with Archie Stray and Eloise Davies both gaining recognition. Stray joined in 2021 as a graduate, became Chartered in 2023, and now takes on the role of Senior Surveyor. Davies, who returned to the business after a placement year, became Chartered this October and is now operating within the U&I team. Rounding out the list is Hannah Scriven, who joined as a Land Rights Technician in early 2024 and is already stepping up into a Land Rights Officer role.
For James Bailey, Managing Partner at Bruton Knowles, the promotions tell a broader story about the company’s momentum: “What you’re seeing here is the result of consistent investment in people. We’ve made strategic external hires, but just as importantly, we’re seeing our internal pipeline delivering senior professionals who are trusted by clients and respected by their peers.”
Neil Young, HR Director, echoes that view: “These promotions are evidence that our people strategy is working. We’re building clear progression routes, supporting professional development and, crucially, ensuring that talent is both recognised and retained.”
Bruton Knowles, one of the UK’s most well-known chartered surveyor firms, brings extensive expertise to the Utilities & Infrastructure sector. With its National Teams – Valuation, Commercial, Utilities & Infrastructure – supported by Building Consultancy, Land and Development, and Rural Service Teams, Bruton Knowles offers a seamless, high standard approach to delivering complex client projects.
