Student Site Engineer Review

I really enjoyed working on site. The works atmosphere was great, there was no sense of superiority in the ranks with everyone doing their part to get the job done. The site team small and this meant that I was not there to do chores but undertake actual engineering works. My tasks included management of site, supervision of works, logistics, ensuring works was completed with correct procedures through creation of Risk assessments and Method statements, H & S and Quality Assurance checks.

The Heathrow division was a small team, therefore I would have much more responsibility than placement students would have. At first I had close supervision, but at later stages I would be in charge of a whole site. At the final stages of my placement I was supervising sub-contractors and liaising with the client and other third party involved to make sure the works proceeded as planned.

The supervisors I worked with were really helpful. No question was a stupid question with them, I was given time to handle my problems but support was always there when required either by phone or just going up to them. Even when my mentor was in a different project to me, he was always a phone call away.

Due to my first project being behind, we were constantly doing overtime for two months in order to meet the deadline. This was good for experience but there were times where it was really busy and we were working till 12 hour shifts and most weekends. Site engineers were one of the first people on site in order to set-up works and one of the last to leave in order to finish Daily Activity sheets.

I was given a site engineers responsibility. This included setting out and surveying, briefing operatives to daily works, producing Risk Assessments and Method Statements, carrying out Quality Assurance checks, making sure the correct Health and Safety procedures are implemented on site. I was constantly supervising sub-contractors and liaising with the client in order to complete the works.

Placement year really helped me with my degree. Time management and understanding to prioritise works is key to success. It also helped me invigorate my interest in civil engineering and get a true understanding of how designs are implemented on site. I am also confident in my work now and find it easier to project my views.

Being on site was amazing, I really enjoyed the family atmosphere that it provided. As there was a small team involved, I managed to get to know most of the people on first name bases. Most of the people were happy to help if you were having any problems that they could solve.

My first day was spent on inductions and getting to know the office people. On my second day I was on site. I was given a mentor for the year who helped me with any problems that I had (the fact that he was a graduate engineer from my university also helped immensely). Once I was on site I had close supervision, but after I was given tasks to carry out on my own. There was no other plan for the placement, but if you asked, it would not go unheard.

I was given buried services training, and attended the 100% Safe Leadership course. I was also given the Airside Drivers Permit (which I was told I was the first placement student to receive), in order to be eligible for Airside Drivers Permit the company paid to carry out a medical examination. There was also a trip to a waste company to see how the waste from site was processed.

I was sponsored by the company and will be going back after graduation to work with them. I am also expected to receive summer placement after my penultimate year. Since there is a small team. You will receive a lot of responsibility, so the future employment prospects look great. There a constant encouragement from ICE mentor to complete DOs and attain charter-ship.

I helped organise a football social every Wednesday evenings, every few months there are different activities competing against other firms in the surrounding areas. There are a few of the team that arrange for breakfast within the team every Fridays. There is also an annual Christmas party, where the company gives prizes to people that have contributed above and beyond their requirements.

As the placement was in London it is quite expensive to for living and socialising cost. But I was fortunate enough to be living quite close to the sites. Some of the guys on site have lodge, it is on the outskirts of London so is much cheaper than usual. There are good links to central London from the surrounding areas via central line.

Central London is the nightlife capital of the world, but is very expensive in terms of of getting there. Underground will cost around £3-£8 depending on where you go from, but once your in Piccadilly Circus you have a variety of places to visit depending on what your interests are. But west London has no nightlife.

There were social activities that you could take part in, but other than that there were not much offered. But if there were any activities that you wished to take part in, and you asked, it would be considered. One of the graduate engineers wished to visit the waste site and see the process of how waste is managed. After asking the Senior Management team he organised for 5 of us to visit the site