Ben Brooks, a Newcastle engineer who worked on the £80 million refurbishment of Big Ben and helped prepare Westminster Hall for the late Queen Elizabeth II's lying-in-state, has taken up the role of Head of Engineering at Nexus.
Brooks, 35, spent three years as Lead Electrical Engineer in the Palace of Westminster before moving to the Tyne and Wear Metro network. During his time at Parliament, he worked across the estate, including the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the basement where Guy Fawkes was caught during the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
Career Highlights at Westminster
Brooks said contributing to the conservation of the Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, and setting up Westminster Hall to honour the Queen in 2022 were highlights. He also played a wider role in renovating both Houses of Parliament and the surrounding office buildings used by MPs.
“It was such an honour and a privilege to work at Westminster. I was delighted to join Nexus when we moved back up north to start a family, but I’ll always cherish my time down in London,” he said.
“Working in Parliament felt like I was really doing something for the good of the country, right at the heart of our democracy. I got to see every nook and cranny of the place, I saw areas behind the scenes the public don’t really get to ever go into.”
Big Ben and the Lying-in-State
Brooks described the conservation work on the Elizabeth Tower as a particular privilege, noting that the clock hands were returned to their original Victorian colour scheme. His role involved working on the lighting systems that illuminate Big Ben's clock face at night.
“A real highlight for me was getting involved in the conservation of the Elizabeth Tower, which most people know as Big Ben. I got to work with the estate historian on that one, which was a particular privilege,” he said.
After Queen Elizabeth II passed away, Brooks was called to assist with work at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Hall, where the Queen was to lie in state. He carried out specifications and design work for the temporary installations needed for the period of national mourning.
Hidden Spaces and Future Plans
Brooks also explored the subterranean basements, tunnels, and cellars below Parliament, including the one where Guy Fawkes was caught. He worked extensively on the Northern Estate Programme, which involved major restoration of Grade I and Grade II listed buildings, including a plan to convert Richmond House into a temporary pop-up House of Commons chamber. That project was later paused following a strategic review.
“One thing that stood out was just going in there every day and seeing all the politicians you usually just see on the television. I recall one time being in a cafeteria and I turned around to see Theresa May was stood behind me in the queue,” he added.
Brooks, who graduated from Northumbria University, has built a 13-year engineering career that has taken him across the UK and abroad. He said he would recommend a career in engineering to anyone, adding that no two days are the same. He is now excited about working for Nexus and supporting its public transport services, including the Metro.
Nexus currently has five engineering jobs advertised, and Brooks said it is an exciting time to join the organisation, with more information available on the Nexus website.
