Structural Engineer (Trainee) Review

I really enjoyed the placement. There was always work to do, projects to get involved in. Also, there are so many new concepts to learn. There is consistently new people to meet and engage with. My work was very hands on, engaging with other firms and carrying out useful structural calculations. Overall it was very interesting and enjoyable.

Arup is brilliant at making everyone feel valued and part of a team. The staff are friendly and love to engage in sports, socials and out of hour events. There are many parties and clubs to join. It is an exciting and fun way to meet people and get to know staff members better.

There is always support and guidance available. Arup staff are very helpful and always willing to give some time to explain a concept or procedure. There is a large amount of online resources that is available for staff members. Senior members will be happy to guide younger/less experienced engineers to the correct documents.

Some days are busier than others. But there is always something to do. Building up to deadlines, there is always lots of work to gather and combine. Generally, tasks will keep coming and meetings normally generate more work to review and existing work to update. Overall, there is more than enough to do. Of course, if there is too much work, speaking to someone is always the best idea.

Arup is respectful and gives all members some degree of responsibility. Responsibility varies with individual levels of experience and qualifications. Therefore, in most cases undertaken work is checked internally and then sent to external clients/firms. Responsibility also varies with personal skills and knowledge, better understanding of the task and program tends to yield more responsibility. Overall, there is a moderate amount of responsibility.

I developed more skills in the 9 months then in my entire educational studies. It has been very helpful. Arup is an excellent company with many workshops, skills training, collaborative learning and lunchtime talks. All of this information ensures that the staff and students are well equipped with the latest knowledge, experience and advice they require. At times, there is so much to get involved in; it becomes a matter of picking where to attend.

The office is very busy, active and lively. There are always social events running for various departments of the company. During the working day, the office is very quiet, Thus, allowing consultants to think and carry out important calculations without too many unrequited distractions. Out of hours, the social committee always run events, every couple of weeks; these include sports competitions, social drinks, bake sales and various other activities.

The placement was very well organised. The company is experienced at providing high quality placements. It really shows through the great experience that Arup has provided me. The work is set to the right level, challenging enough to keep me thinking, but not too hard to involve overtime work. Therefore, the placement work was organised to the correct level, thus, I really enjoyed my placement.

The firm is always happy to provide feedback and appraisals. Thus, allowing changes to be made to allow greater personal use within the team. Additionally, the firm is also happy to provide internal training and guidance on using a new software or program. Overall, the firm is happy to spend money to train young engineers, as long as the cost - benefit implications are justifiable.

Arup is a very highly reputed firm within the engineering industry. Especially the civil engineering industry. The company has over 12,000 staff members and is still growing. It has a vast amount of experience in all civil engineering fields. In particular, Arup still holds true to its core values, leading to large amounts of success. Clearly, the prospects are very high for a multinational firm.

I met regularly with other placement students within the london office. This was a great way to share experiences and meet likeminded people. The firm also holds social events for lower level engineers. These networking sessions are very useful, allowing staff to engage and learn more about the progresses and achievements of other members. There are not many other companies that do this.

London is fairly expensive. However, the costs are manageable and reasonable. However, some care needs to be taken. Generally, the most expensive part of London is travelling and accommodation. Apart from the that, the food and other living costs are fairly standard. Additionally, if the placement is paid then there is not much to worry about. i recommend not letting the finances govern the decisions you make.

The nightlife was excellent. London is known for its nightlife. There are many places to go out and eat, cinemas, local pub, nightclubs and social sporting events. Therefore, the nightlife is excellent and something to make the most off. I highly recommend, going out and enjoying some of what London has to offer. Especially if you do not live in London.

There are always lots of things to do in London. Arup is a very social firm. It is always organising events for staff members and individual teams are also holding lunches and dinners. London has a lot to offer. It is just a case of figuring out what you enjoy and find some likeminded people. This is one of the biggest joys of working for Arup in London.