TYPSA is an independent engineering, architecture and consulting services group with 60 years of international experience, a presence in 60 countries and over 4,500 employees worldwide. Founded in Spain in 1966, TYPSA provides multidisciplinary expertise across transport, water, buildings, renewable energy, environmental and urban development projects, supporting public, private and institutional clients from concept and design through to commissioning and operation.
With a strong focus on technical excellence, sustainability and innovation, TYPSA delivers some of the world’s most complex infrastructure and development programmes through the integration of multidisciplinary expertise, digital engineering and advanced technologies. In the UK and Ireland, where the Group has operated for a decade, TYPSA has grown to more than 250 professionals across four offices in the UK (London, Leeds, Peterborough, Edinburgh) and three in Ireland, supporting major projects in transport, water, energy, aviation, maritime and buildings sectors. Learn more at www.typsa.com
We had the pleasure of speaking with Javier Olazabal, Managing Director of TYPSA UK & Ireland, about the value of Patron membership, knowledge exchange and collaboration.
- Could you provide a brief overview of TYPSA and its presence in the UK market?
TYPSA has been operating in the UK since 2016, initially through its involvement in major transport infrastructure projects such as HS2 Lots S1 and S2 (London Tunnels and Approaches) and the A465 Head of the Valleys Road. Over the past decade, the business has grown significantly and expanded its presence across the UK. Today, TYPSA UK employs more than 110 professionals across four offices in London, Leeds, Peterborough and Edinburgh. Together with the wider TYPSA Group, more than 300 professionals currently support UK projects and clients.
Over recent years, TYPSA UK has successfully diversified its activities into the water, energy, buildings, healthcare, maritime and aviation sectors. Recent growth includes supporting major programmes for Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water or Northumbrian Water, delivering offshore wind and transmission projects, providing the detailed design of the Immingham Port Ro-Ro Terminal or securing a place on the Gatwick Airport framework among other major appointments.
This growth reflects TYPSA’s long-term commitment to the UK market and its ambition to continue expanding its capabilities across key infrastructure and development sectors.
- As a new Patron of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce (UK), what benefits do you hope to gain from our collaboration?
We have been collaborating with the Chamber since the very beginning of our activity in the UK and have always valued its role in strengthening business and institutional links between Spain and the UK. Becoming a Patron is therefore a natural step for TYPSA, reflecting both the growth of our business and our desire to play a more active role in supporting the Chamber’s mission and community.
Having established a significant presence across the UK, our aim is to continue raising awareness of the breadth of our capabilities and track record, ensuring that clients and partners recognise TYPSA as a trusted long-term delivery partner for major infrastructure and development programmes.
There is also a strong international dimension to this collaboration. Many of the organisations we engage with through the Chamber may already know TYPSA from other markets, while relationships established in the UK can also create opportunities to collaborate internationally in the future.
We particularly value the institutional credibility, visibility and access to the business community that the Chamber provides. TYPSA has been present in the UK for a decade, and becoming a Patron reflects our long-term commitment to the market and our ambition to continue growing here. We are proud to support the Chamber’s mission and look forward to contributing actively to its community.
- What key values define your company, and how are these values integrated into your daily operations and customer interactions?
At TYPSA, our identity is built around six core values: honesty, leadership, excellence, independence, permanence and responsibility. These principles have guided the company for more than 60 years and continue to shape how we work every day with clients, partners and colleagues.
A key part of this culture is that TYPSA grows as one company and operates as one team. Our international expansion is built on shared systems, procedures, quality standards and values, allowing us to integrate knowledge and expertise across the Group and bring our collective know-how and capabilities to every new market and project.
In practice, honesty and independence underpin the way we work with clients, promoting open communication, transparency and objective technical advice focused on delivering the best outcomes for each project. Excellence and leadership are reflected in our commitment to quality, innovation and continuous improvement, supported by digital engineering, advanced technologies and the ongoing development of our people.
Permanence and responsibility reflect our long-term approach to both business and infrastructure development. After 60 years as a Group and ten years in the UK, we remain focused on building enduring relationships with clients, communities and partners, while delivering projects that contribute positively to society, support the transition to a low-carbon future and create lasting value for the regions in which we operate.
- How does TYPSA stand out in the UK engineering and infrastructure sector, and what approaches help you deliver high-quality, added-value solutions to your clients?
What sets TYPSA apart in the UK is the combination of strong technical expertise, international experience and a genuinely multidisciplinary approach, allowing us to support clients throughout the full project lifecycle, from concept and design through to commissioning and operation.
Our experience spans some of the UK’s most significant infrastructure programmes, including high speed rail, major highway schemes, marine and aviation, large-scale water infrastructure programmes and offshore wind developments. This breadth enables us to transfer knowledge and
innovation between sectors while maintaining a strong focus on digital engineering, sustainability and independent, client-focused advice.
Ultimately, our strength lies in combining the agility and accessibility of a local team with the resources and experience of an international group, while maintaining the same focus on quality, consistency and long-term client relationships.
- What is TYPSA’s vision for the future, and what specific strategies or actions are you implementing to achieve it?
TYPSA’s vision is to be a leading engineering firm in civil engineering, renewable energy, buildings, and environmental services, both nationally and internationally, while delivering excellence, innovation and a strong commitment to society and the environment.
Looking ahead, our strategic priorities are clear: sustainability, digitalisation and long-term growth. We aim to support the transition to more resilient and low-carbon infrastructure while continuing to strengthen the use of digital tools and innovative approaches that improve quality, efficiency and value for our clients.
In the UK, our focus is on building a sustainable long-term business that combines strong local capability with the expertise of the wider TYPSA Group. Recent investments, including the opening of new offices in Peterborough and Edinburgh reflect our commitment to being closer to our clients and supporting growth across strategic sectors such as transport, water, energy, aviation, buildings and maritime infrastructure.
Being part of organisations such as the Spanish Chamber of Commerce is also an important part of that journey, helping us strengthen our network, visibility and position in the market.