1) We keep strange hours – most surveys need us to measure overnight and at weekends.

2) We can’t measure when it’s raining or windy, or snowing. Not because we are wimps, but because it affects the measurements.

3) We CAN measure when it’s very cold, more’s the pity. We are therefore experts in layering, and the least bulky brands of thermal underwear.

4) Backlit Kindles are a thing of beauty. When I started this career, I had to hope there was a lamp post under which to read a paperback during long night surveys.

5) We aren’t all hi-fi buffs or musicians (though many are).

6) Acoustics is a branch of physics, and also involves a good deal of maths. It’s not all standing around in the cold (hooray!).

7) To succeed as a consultant you need to be good at maths and physics but also at writing; translating a technical topic into something for non-experts to understand is what our reports are all about.

8) No two days are the same – you can be working on a high profile HQ building one day, and down a sewer the next.

9) One of the secret joys is seeing things that many people don’t – amazing rooftop views, an abandoned wind tunnel, excavations at the Royal Naval College and hidden underground tunnels in Brighton have been some of my favourites.

10) Observation suggests that most consultants are fuelled by Diet Coke. We’re not sure why this is, but it may be related to point 1.

dBx Acoustics was thrilled to be part of the team behind the Beehive in York. A purpose-built centre, the Beehive is thought to be the first of kind in the country and it provides short breaks for children and young people with complex disabilities.

dBx Acoustics provided acoustic design advice as well as a planning noise impact assessment. The project was especially dear to Susan, dBx Acoustics director as both she and her daughter are autistic. Susan is also a member of the Institute of Acoustics Diversity and Inclusion committee.

The facilities at the Beehive include:

• a safe and accessible space for play and interaction with family members and with staff
• apartments for children and parents to stay in during longer term assessment of their support needs
• access to a range of professionals who can help to support families in meeting the children’s needs
• spacious bedrooms with state-of-the-art hoist and bathing facilities for children who have complex health needs and wheelchair users
• a larger, open-spaced area and bedrooms for children with learning disabilities or autism
• quieter self-contained areas that can be used for children who may struggle in a more open, busier environment and where their parents can accompany them so that their needs can be fully assessed
• an activity area, sensory room and quiet rooms
• a large outdoor play space with a variety of equipment suitable for children of all abilities.

Find out more about the Beehive here.