Trainee Site Engineer Review

I have really enjoyed my placement so far as there is a lot to learn about the highways industry. There are many aspects to highways jobs that do not need to be considered as much on some other jobs. These range from programming to ensure not all tasks are being performed within the same stretch of road as this will cause long delays, but also it involves new safety aspects such as driving into and out off the roadworks. I am enjoying taking on more responsibilites and being out on site performing tasks.

I am already undertaking tasks by myself such as setting out using GPS, noting blockers to work being undertaken in areas and checking on work done by operatives on site. I also help other engineers in tasks such as production of permits to break ground. Therefore, I feel like I am valued by my collegues as I can help them complete their tasks and ensure areas are prepared for operatives to enter when rhe work is necessary.

I began with a lot of support as I had only been on site for 8 weeks the previous summer. Therefore, I spent the first few weeks shadowing other engineers to learn more about the work to be undertaken and the process of completing it. I still have support if I need it in jobs that I am undertaking and I always feel like I can ask questions if I am unsure.

Once I had settled into the project and began to know my way around the network, I was able to undertake tasks on my own which meant I became a lot busier as I wasn't just shadowing engineers, I was undertaking extra tasks. I am now preparing areas of work in a new section of the road works with another engineer, ensuring permits are ready for work to be done and there aren't large blockers that require a design/construction method change.

I have been given a good level of responsibility that allows me to take on new challenges and learn about problem solving, site/team management and engineering skills without pushing me past point of my knowledge and experience. If I am ever unsure I ask questions and if still unsure I ask for help the first time I am performing a task.

The main skills I can take forward are organisational skills to ensure my gangs on site have enough work for the day/week, knowledge about highways projects such as interpretting the drawings and communication skills. Communication is very important within the industry as you must communicate with all staff such as foreman, operatives, electricians. This skill will help me in my written and oral work at university and further in my career also.

As soon as I arrived on site I could attend my prebooked site induction and collected PPE from the stores. I was also given a site induction pack to read over and the showed around the site. I did change between the street lighting and communications sub teams of the technology team to begin with before finding a permanent role within the communications team which I am enjoying.

I have undertaken training on the job to ensure I am able to undertake tasks individually (such as the Driver Awareness Course which allows me to drive within the roadworks) and I also undertook the People Plant Interface training which is another step towards my saftey training for site. I have undertaken an RD8000 cable avoidance tool training course and SHE training.

I hope to work for the company after my degree course finishes as I am a scholarship student with the company and I am thoroughly enjoying my work placement. I need to obtain good grades at university and show I have the qualities necessary to become a good engineer during my placements to secure a job with the organisation upon graduation.

The cost of living is quite low for rented accommodation and the cost of going out for meals/drinks is a good price also. I have joined a gym that is very close to my accommodation which is very cheap and I also enjoy the area in which I live in by going for walks and bike rides which costs nothing, Therefore, overall it is quite cheap to live within this area.

In the immediate area of the office, I am unsure what the nightlife was like. However, I lived within easy walking distance of a tram stop which was on a line that took me straight into the city centre where there are many bars (some of which I have visited on works evenings). We recently went for a meal in the city centre as a team as one of the sections of the works was coming to completion.