Meet the Team: John Bailiss, Founder – Honest, Ambitious Engineering
Meet the Team: John Bailiss, Founder – Honest, Ambitious Engineering
In the first of our new ‘meet the team’ series, John Bailiss, founder of Bailiss & Co., explains why the phrase ‘honest but ambitious engineering’ has shaped how he leads projects, works with clients, and plans for the firm’s future.
A practical start in engineering
John’s interest in engineering began with a fascination for how things are put together, leading him to study Civil and Architectural Engineering at the University of Bath, a course renowned for its practical, hands-on approach and close ties to design. Right from the start, John was drawn to the synergy between engineering and architecture: “I’ve always enjoyed the process of problem-solving alongside architects. It’s about unlocking the vision rather than holding it back.”
After graduating, John joined Price & Myers, a leading practice known for its design-led approach and wide-ranging projects. Over nearly a decade there, he became chartered, cut his teeth on complex schemes, and developed the ethos that still guides him today: engineers exist to make ideas buildable, not to put obstacles in the way.
Structuring a path to leadership
With experience from a large firm under his belt, John chose to broaden his knowledge in a smaller, growing practice. He joined Engenuiti, where he had more scope to influence and learn from a business in expansion. Over six years, he gained invaluable insight into how a practice grows, but also clarity on the type of firm he wanted to lead. “I didn’t want to just sit back and wait for opportunities to arrive. I’ve always assumed that I’d eventually make my own path.”
That moment arrived in late 2020, when John founded Bailiss & Co. “We were busy from day one,” he recalls. Growth was entirely organic - word-of-mouth spread, and the workload steadily expanded. By the end of 2025, the practice will be five years old, with a team that now includes five members of staff. Together, they’ve taken on projects scaling from £3-5m up to £15m, across residential, commercial, education, health, and heritage sectors.
Honest but ambitious engineering
So what does “honest but ambitious” mean in practice? John explains: “It starts with transparency. When we put in a fee proposal, we’re upfront about the cost, about the
constraints, and about what’s realistic. It’s much better to have those tough conversations at the beginning.”
But rather than limit ambition, honesty and potential constraints make projects more interesting. Whether it’s navigating flight paths, working on UNESCO sites, or the sensitivities of listed buildings, he sees constraints as opportunities for smarter design. “We do a lot of work with existing buildings, and that always needs more than calculations - it requires thought, judgement, and sometimes political negotiation. That’s the exciting bit.”
Collaboration and communication
One particularly technically demanding project, St Giles Circus near Tottenham Court Road, that John worked on whilst at Engenuiti, involved working around live transport, listed buildings, and an urban environment. “The overlapping challenges of that scheme really highlighted the importance of patience, collaboration and creative problem solving under pressure, experiences which continue to shape the work we do at Bailiss & Co.”
In terms of working with clients and other stakeholders, the priority for John and his team is clarity: “Our role is to guide clients through tough choices. Balancing design vision, budget, and sustainability goals can all feel conflicting, but with the right communication, we can navigate them without the project losing its integrity.”
Architects, in particular, know that choosing to work with John and his team means working with a firm that will protect their design intent while keeping solutions grounded. Project managers trust his pragmatism and directness. Estate owners and asset managers value his long-term perspective, especially in complex refurbishments where hidden risks can derail a scheme.
Future growth for Bailiss & Co
Looking ahead, John sees the practice growing steadily but deliberately. “We don’t want to be huge. The ambition is a team of around 12 people, taking on slightly larger projects - up to £40m - but always with the same ethos. A mix of residential and commercial work allows us to apply ideas across sectors.”
One of the most exciting aspects of engineering is the interplay between old and new. “Eighty percent of our work involves existing buildings,” explains John, “There’s something deeply satisfying about making old structures work for modern needs - it requires creativity, patience, and respect for what’s come before.”
In the past year alone, the practice has doubled its turnover and team size, evidence that clients value their approach.
Keeping it simple
John’s message is simple: “You can expect honesty from us from day one. We’ll tell you what’s possible, what isn’t, and how to get to the right solution. But we’ll also be ambitious with you - finding elegant, practical, and sustainable answers that stand the test of time.
“Great engineering should be imaginative and rigorous, but always grounded in reality.” Get in touch to find out more about the team, or head over to Portfolio to see some of the recent projects we’ve worked on.