Placement Student Review

One of the best working environments I have been in. People are approachable and very happy to share knowledge and experience. They type of work varied from the basic of introducing me to the software and processes right up to being responsible for making critical design changes on future engines.

From team socials to recognition of work, my colleagues during this placement year treated me like a permanent employee. I was given the opportunity to work on future development projects from the beginning showing the how the team valued my work and place in the team. I would definitely recommend it to all.

Everyone has been approachable. The skill of team members are very high and they are all willing to share their knowledge in order to broaden expertise of all the members of the team. The supervisor was approachable and is very happy to help or assist with any issues ranging from project work to filling out university progress forms.

Initially started off slow but within the first 2 months work was constantly made available with the opportunity to work on development stage engines. Work load was managed such to stretch our capability and ensure that we were not overloaded with work. Work load has provided me with invaluable time planning skills that would be useful in the final year and beyond in industry

I was treated as an equal member of the team and recommendations from work done where fed into design change requirements. this responsibility is not something all placement companies offer. Responsibilities and design changes where logged and all design changes can be traced back to the initial work that led to the recommendations for change.

CFD skills learnt have been above and beyond what university courses are able to teach. The knowledge can be invaluable for final year projects. The knowledge learnt and shared by other team members have been invaluable to helping prepare me for a career in CFD and thermofluids. The stuff that we are exposed to cannot be replicated in any degree module.

Everyone in the team is approachable. The expertise in the office is visible and everyone is willing to share their knowledge. Social activities allow teams to mingle outside of work and allow placements to make more connections which they may have not made otherwise in their own team. social activities are organised by ex-graduate students which are always happy to try out new activities based on the recommendations of the new employees

The first 6 months are spent in a team where you are most comfortable with allowing you to settle into the team and get to know others within the company. This allows placements to perfect skills they already possess. The second 6 months are spent in a team that you would not have usually picked and sometimes outside of the comfort zone. This allows new skills to be picked up and allow the student to experience something new.

From health and safety training to software training the company was more than happy to develop my skills and teach me new skills that cannot be taught from a lecture room. I was given access to people in other companies that where more knowledgeable in their respective fields. Access to other company employees was made freely available. Permanent employees are given access to a choice of learning topics which they can carry out during each year. A sample of this was made available to us placement students. 6 sigma yellow belt training for all new employees with the capability to work up to a green belt during the placement year.

I am considering applying for the graduate scheme with caterpillar. It is not a guaranteed place on the graduate scheme but having set a good foundation during the placement year there is a higher chance. Work carried out during the placement year is documented and will be kept on record. This gives advantage over other applicants who did not do the placement.

Social activities between placements, graduates and ex-graduates take place at least once a fortnight. Feedback from previous years is used to improve the socials. New social ideas are always welcome to the organizers. Team socials are organised at least bi-annually and these vary from meals out to team rowing activities. The social aspect is definitely not neglected

Accommodation near to work can be expensive if you don't have a car but living further out it is cheaper and better quality however will need a car to travel in to work. Many placements house share and then car pool to reduce costs. Typical nights out are not as loud as university nights out but are just as cheep. Good transport to central London for more social activities.

Definately not London. If you are willing to travel there are some good places near by. Lost of places to go but are not the typical student scene, some may be shocked.

Good transport links to bigger cities for more things to do.