Reimagining places, reimagining purpose: Jamie Bawden’s secondment journey with the MoJ
Reimagining places, reimagining purpose: Jamie Bawden’s secondment journey with the MoJ
What does it look like to reimagine public spaces — not just as buildings, but as places for people to thrive?
For Jamie Bawden, a Project Manager with Wates, the answer has taken shape through his secondment with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Property Directorate. It has been a transformative experience and one that’s stretched his professional capabilities, deepened his understanding of public sector delivery, and reaffirmed his belief that construction is ultimately about people, purpose, and possibility.
From contractor to collaborator
Jamie stepped into the MoJ role through the MoJ Pilot Secondment Scheme, a unique initiative offering professionals the opportunity to gain insight into the client and consultancy side of major public sector projects. For Jamie, this wasn’t just a shift in role — it was a shift in mindset.
Moving from a contractor to a client environment meant adjusting to a different culture and way of communicating. It has made me more strategic, more reflective, and it has been rewarding to see how early engagement and collaboration can genuinely drive better outcomes.”
On any given day, Jamie finds himself immersed in technical discussions, stakeholder engagement, governance processes, or reviewing project progress across the MoJ’s extensive nationwide estate. His role is varied but always grounded in the goal of delivering value — not just in buildings, but in lives touched by them.
Building with purpose
Jamie’s journey in construction began over 25 years ago and spans landmark projects like Merseyside Fire and Rescue’s new training academy and Star Salford Academy. He brings this rich experience to his work at the MoJ, where he’s working on secure environments that foster rehabilitation.
Construction can be seen as purely technical, but it’s really about improving places where people live and work. The best projects are those that are shaped by purpose and aligned to the needs of the people who use them.”
Through this lens, Jamie’s work resonates powerfully with our new purpose: Reimagining places for people to thrive. At the MoJ, this means shaping environments that support those who work within them, and those who are impacted by them.
Forests With Impact: Giving hope, pride and purpose
One of the standout experiences of Jamie’s secondment has been his involvement with Forests With Impact — an award-winning, innovative social enterprise that is transforming rehabilitation and sustainability across the UK prison estate.
Forests With Impact establishes commercial tree nurseries within prisons, helping prisoners develop skills, rebuild self-esteem, and contribute to the UK’s tree planting goals. It’s a model of environmental and social sustainability in action — and one Jamie has helped shape by applying his expertise in technical standards and estate readiness.
Working with the Forests With Impact team, alongside AECOM, AtkinsRéalis, and other partners, has reminded me that small decisions can create lasting impact. It’s about creating sustainable, scalable frameworks that ensure every participating prison is truly ‘Forests With Impact-ready’ and can hit the ground running.”
Through this work, Jamie has been supporting the programme’s expansion strategy and contributing to a comprehensive delivery model alongside AECOM’s David Jones, Luke Botham from AtkinsRéalis, and the wider Forests With Impact team. Together, they’re helping set the stage for broader roll-out and deeper societal benefit.
We are delighted to have Jamie on board. The project he’s leading is incredibly exciting and will play a crucial role in developing a comprehensive Forests With Impact-ready framework. With this clear plan in place, we’ll be able to hit the ground running, ensuring seamless and impactful delivery at each site as we expand our mission. This work will help us contribute meaningfully to both prisoner rehabilitation and the UK’s sustainability goals.”
Sarah MacGregor
Programme Lead at Forests With Impact
Thriving Planet. Thriving Places. Thriving People.
Jamie’s work touches on all three of our promises.
Thriving Planet
From supporting tree growing inside an establishment, to sharing insights into the impressive work that is carried out to reduce and recycle waste within the Ministry of Justice. As an example, he was unaware that the MoJ owned such a vast array of valuable habitats growing their own food for their kitchens, and how they manufacture products such as cell furniture for the New Prison Programme by prison industries.
Structural pre-cast elements made at HMP Fosse Way were incorporated into the new houseblock project on-site, reducing transportation impacts, and this continues to provide work opportunities. Jamie’s work champions sustainable practices at every level.
Thriving Places
Through modern prison designs and thoughtful planning, he’s seen how good design can reduce antisocial behaviour, aid reintegration, and create safer, more human-centred spaces.
Thriving People
Whether mentoring prison leavers, supporting social value initiatives, or listening to inspiring stories. A couple that stood out were delivered by Redemption Roasters, or PCE’s pledge to support 75 ex-offenders by 2027 — Jamie sees the human impact of thoughtful project delivery.
This secondment has allowed me to see the system from a new angle. From strategic planning to social value, it’s reinforced how the built environment can genuinely support people to thrive.”
A journey of reimagining
From commercial projects to public purpose, Jamie’s secondment has offered fresh perspective and renewed purpose. Whether collaborating with colleagues across the MoJ or exploring the outdoors on a leadership course in Cumbria, the purpose has remained the same: a commitment to reimagining spaces — and roles — where people, communities, and nature can thrive together.
Whether it’s a construction site, a prison workshop, or a forest nursery — every space has the potential to change lives. We just have to be open to reimagining what’s possible!”
Jamie Bawden
Project Manager, Wates
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