Tag: small engineering firm

Benefits of Working with a Small Engineering Firm

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses operate 84.8% of establishments while employing 54.3% of workers. So, what is it about small businesses that attract over half of the workforce and make up the majority of establishments? For employees seeking a meaningful career and for clients in search of personalized and effective solutions, working for and with a small firm provides a myriad of benefits that often rise above the conventional expectations that come with larger corporations.

Let’s explore the dual joys of being an employee in a small firm and a client seeking the unique advantages we as a small firm bring to the table.

For Employees

Ability to Embrace Innovation through Varied Roles and Responsibilities

Working for a small business or firm provides employees with a unique opportunity to wholeheartedly embrace innovation and creativity. When embracing this level of ethos, small firms are able to foster an environment where every voice is heard. This mindset empowers employees to don multiple hats, as each person joining the team has their own set of skills, perspectives, and expertise that they can bring to the table.

Each day brings a new set of challenges, creating a dynamic and engaging work environment that offers employees the opportunities to not only lean back on their past experiences, but also learn new skills and provide a “new set of eyes” when interacting with said challenges. These multifaceted roles not only broaden the team’s skillset but also provide a more holistic perspective, inspiring creative and innovative problem-solving, whereas larger corporations and firms may experience more constraints.

Opportunities to Make an Impact

At the heart of our small team lies a collective dedication to a fundamental service: providing communities with clean water. This shared purpose fosters a profound sense of meaning, creating a workforce that is driven by a commitment to our public’s well-being.

Since we are a small firm, our employees and clients are able to consistently make a bigger impact due to having direct access to key decision-makers. Having the opportunity to quickly run new ideas by a key stakeholder allows our team to work more efficiently due to the lack of “hoops” many larger firms often have to jump through, further encouraging innovation and creativity.

This accessibility to decision-makers cultivates a culture of open communication, cutting down on decision-making time. This empowers employees to feel a sense of ownership over their projects, encouraging them to think creatively about solutions and leading them to spend their time working on value-adding tasks and projects.

Added Benefits of ESOP Small Business

And speaking of ownership, all Tata & Howard employees are actually owners, creating even more of an ownership mindset in our organization. Being a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) provides unique benefits not only to clients who appreciate the effort, attention, and pride of work that comes with ownership, but also to employees who enjoy the financial rewards of ownership.

For Clients

Personalized Service and Direct Communication

There’s a distinct advantage to choosing to work with a small firm, often in the form of more attentive, personal, direct, and customized service. The more intimate nature of small firms can be quite challenging to find in larger corporations, with many lacking direct communication.

With a small firm, direct communication with decision-makers is not only a hallmark, but it also ensures clients that they are more than just another transaction; they are in fact valued partners. This kind of intentional accessibility allows both firm and client to foster a deep understanding of each other’s needs and preferences, making way for service with a level of laser precision that can often go far beyond the standardized solutions larger firms offer.

It’s this level of commitment to customer service and satisfaction that is often ingrained in the ethos of small firms that results in returning customers and more collaborative partnerships.

Cost-Efficient Partnership

Selecting a small firm as a client often means a more cost-efficient partnership compared to working with larger corporations. Small firms often operate with lower overhead costs as they typically have streamlined operations and are laser-focused on efficiency, meaning they can offer more competitive prices.

But, how is that possible?

Small firms can afford to be more flexible, allowing themselves to work around and cater to the specific needs of each client, tailoring services to meet these individual requirements. Unlike larger corporations that may offer standardized solutions at a premium, small firms can provide these services at a more affordable rate.

This level of dependability, innovation, and dedication to going the extra mile when providing a fundamental service allows small firms like T&H to build strong, lasting relationships with satisfied clients.

Entrepreneurial Spirit Leading to Innovative Solutions

It’s not just small firm employees that can benefit from embracing innovation and creativity; clients are encouraged just as much to immerse themselves in a firm’s entrepreneurial culture. The collaborative nature of the client-small firm relationship allows for both parties to embrace more unconventional ideas and solutions, while larger firms may be bound by established processes. The lack of these constraints combined with the fostering of innovation and “out of the box-ness” allows small firms to take more calculated risks when solving problems, which can lead to a more dynamic and proactive approach.

Conclusion

When working for a small firm — particularly an ESOP — employees are valued for their contributions and are empowered to actively participate in the decision-making process. In partnering with a small firm, clients are not just mere recipients of a service but are also active participants in their own problem-solving.

This dual experience of working for and with a small firm invites all parties to a world where innovation, creativity, and collaboration are not only welcomed and encouraged but embraced wholeheartedly. It’s with this level of dedication and prioritization that small firms are able to carve a niche area for themselves, providing a level of service that many large corporations are unable to fulfill.

6 Reasons to Work with a Small Engineering Firm

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to addressing your water needs and ultimately awarding a project to the most qualified bidder. Whether you’re in need of a large scale project such as the design and construction administration of a water treatment plant, or something smaller like a new water main, the deciding factors are equally important. Although it may seem daunting to weigh the magnitude of experience and qualifications across all the competing bids, we are big proponents for small engineering firms. Read on to see six great reasons why working with a small engineering firm could be a huge benefit to your company, institution, or municipality.

True Experts in the Field

In choosing a small engineering firm, you’ll have the opportunity to work with engineers who have expertise in both a specialized service as well as experience across multiple facets of the business. It is common to see groups of small teams within a firm that focus on particular segments of the business, be it water, wastewater, stormwater, or construction. Given the nature of a small firm however, there are large opportunities for teamwork and collaboration across the different services. For example, an engineer with a focus on stormwater, may have contributed their knowledge to a wastewater project.

Folks in smaller, privately owned firms, also tend to stay at the company for longer periods of time. With a feeling of trust and community within the company, experience will always increase with longevity.

Client Focused and Reliable

From first interaction to project completion, the team will be there to assist through every step. Teams within small engineering firms are known to go the extra mile to meet the needs of their clients and stop at nothing to make sure all expectations are exceeded. More so than the project itself, a solid client-firm relationship is critically important. When a company is small, team members are often more accessible and eager to help.

Familiar with the Area

Most small, regional firms tend to have a majority of clients close to their headquarters and satellite offices. Having a level of familiarity within a tighter geographic region provides huge benefits for firms and clients alike. For example, when a firm works with a town, they learn the ins and outs of new and existing systems. When it comes time for another project in the same town, the small, local firm is then one step ahead of the competition. Firms that are more local to the client also are more likely to have greater connections with other contractors and utilities nearby.

Tata & Howard worked with the town of Milford, MA on a Wastewater Treatment Facility

Engaged Engineers

According to a 2017 study by Gallup, smaller companies have higher levels of employee engagement. From 2012-2016, the percentage of engagement levels in small companies grew by five percentage points. In the same time frame, engagement levels in larger companies barely budged. Similarly, 42% of employees working at companies of 10 or fewer were engaged at work versus the 30% who worked at larger companies. Use this stat when you’re thinking about the team of engineers working on a project (i.e. 10 person companies can easily be equivalent to 10 person teams.)

Transparency

A big component of a solid working relationship is honesty. In any project, big or small, there will always be bumps in the road. A small engineering firm is more inclined to reveal challenges and concerns and face them throughout the course of the project. With full transparency, the firm and client can then work together to address all needs and achieve the end goal.

Small Firms – Big Hearts

In this day and age, ‘giving back’ is incredibly important to consumers. You want to know the company you’re doing business with cares about the world around them. Often times, you will see smaller firms participating in ways well beyond dollars. Giving time, partnering with local charities, and finding a cause that employees truly want to be a part of are what small companies tend to excel in.

tata and howrad employees introduce young girl scouts to engineering