SiLC Employers Scheme: Arcadis on raising the bar for technical excellence 

A founding supporter shares how membership is shaping skills, consistency and career pathways across the business. As a member of the SiLC Employers scheme, Arcadis is embedding shared standards into the way teams define roles, review deliverables and support professional growth. We spoke with the Arcadis team about why they signed up early, what they’ve changed in practice, and the impact they expect for colleagues and clients. 

From Carrie Rose, Head of Discipline Geoenvironmental, at Arcadis: 

At Arcadis, technical excellence is not a static benchmark, it is an evolving standard that must continuously rise to meet the complexities of land condition and Brownfield Redevelopment. Becoming part of the SiLC Employers Scheme marks a significant step in that journey, reinforcing our commitment to professional competence, consistency, and leadership across the sector. 

This article sets out how the scheme aligns with Arcadis values, how it is being embedded into everyday practice, how our people are responding, and how we will measure its success. 

Aligning with Arcadis Values 

The SiLC Employers Scheme naturally aligns with the core values that define Arcadis as a business. 

• People First; At the heart of the scheme is a structured approach to developing skills & competence. At Arcadis, this directly supports our focus on growing our people, enabling clear progression pathways and supporting individuals to achieve professional recognition.  

• Integrity; SiLC provides an externally recognised benchmark for technical competence. Embedding it reinforces our commitment to the highest professional standards and strengthens trust with clients, regulators, stakeholders and communities.  

• Sustainability; The scheme underpins robust, proportionate decision-making in land condition, supporting better environmental outcomes and sustainable land use.  

• Collaboration; Delivering against SiLC principles requires cross-disciplinary working, shared learning, and consistent expectations across teams.  
  
  In this sense, the SiLC Employers Scheme is not an additional initiative it is a framework that reinforces what Arcadis already stands for, while providing a clear, industry-recognised structure to embed those values in practice. 

From Commitment to Action: What Has Changed in Practice 

Moving from commitment to implementation has required deliberate and visible changes across Arcadis’ systems and processes. The scheme is being embedded through several key mechanisms: 

• Capability and Role Alignment – Our capability and role description matrix has been aligned to reflect SiLC competencies, ensuring that expectations are clear at every grade and career stage.  

• Integration into Grade Structure – The National Brownfield Skills Framework (NBSF) has been placed at the core of our grade system, providing a structured and consistent benchmark for technical development.  

• Quality and Governance Processes – SiLC-aligned expectations are reflected in our deliverables review processes, including the use of standardised reporting approaches linked to recognised quality frameworks.  

These changes are reinforced by broader organisational practices already in place at Arcadis, including structured training pathways, mentoring, and professional development support, all of which contribute to building demonstrably competent teams.  

Importantly, the scheme is not being implemented as a standalone requirement it is being integrated into how we define roles, deliver work, and review quality. 

How People Are Responding and the Expected Impact 

The response across the business has been overwhelmingly positive. 

One of the most notable observations has been the cultural shift triggered by a simple principle: “As a SiLC employer, this is the standard we work to.” This framing has helped colleagues recognise the scheme as a marker of technical excellence, rather than an administrative requirement.  

As a result, we are seeing: 

• Greater clarity in expectations across grades and roles 

• Increased alignment in how technical work is delivered and reviewed 

• Growing interest in professional registration and progression towards SiLC 

The impact is clear. Over time, we anticipate: 

• Higher and more consistent technical standards across all projects 

• A stronger pipeline of professionals achieving SiLC registration 

• Enhanced confidence from clients, stakeholders and regulators in the quality of our work 

This is further supported by Arcadis’ wider commitment to professional development, mentoring, and chartership pathways, which already encourage continuous learning and progression.  

How We Will Know It Is Working 

Measuring success is critical to ensuring that the scheme delivers meaningful outcomes rather than simply process change. 

At Arcadis, we will assess its effectiveness through both qualitative and quantitative indicators: 

• Clarity of Career Pathways 
  Colleagues will feel that expectations for progression are transparent, structured, and achievable.  

• Consistency in Delivery 
  Workflows and deliverables will become increasingly consistent and streamlined, reflecting shared standards across the business.  

• Growth in Professional Recognition 
  An increase in the number of professionals working towards and achieving SiLC status will provide a tangible measure of success.  

• Quality Outcomes 
  Improved consistency and robustness in technical outputs, supported by governance processes, will demonstrate the impact on project delivery. 

Beyond metrics, success will ultimately be reflected in how our people feel, whether they are supported, developed, and confident in their ability to deliver high-quality work and in how our clients experience our services. 

Raising the Bar for the Industry 

Arcadis’ adoption of the SiLC Employers Scheme is part of a broader commitment to industry leadership. As an organisation actively involved in professional panels, training, and thought leadership, we see this not just as an internal initiative, but as a contribution to raising standards across the sector.  

By embedding SiLC principles into our systems, culture, and delivery, we are helping to create a more consistent, transparent, and competent industry one that is better equipped to address the environmental challenges ahead. 

Conclusion 

The SiLC Employers Scheme provides a powerful framework to strengthen technical excellence but its true value lies in how it is implemented. 

At Arcadis, we are translating commitment into action embedding the scheme into roles, processes, and culture. The result is greater clarity for our people, stronger confidence for our clients, and a clear pathway to raising standards across the industry. 

In doing so, we are not just meeting expectations, we are setting them.