Industrial Trainee (Mechanical) Review

It was a very eye-opening experience, seeing how a building consultancy firm operated as well as understanding the kind of work that they do on a daily basis. I very much enjoyed the experience, working on a variety of projects, given a range of tasks and meeting some great people along the way.

Despite being someone who had never worked in building services in the past, I felt very much as part of the team(s). The work you do directly contributes to the progress of the project so everyone values your help and would take time out to help with any problems you have.

Practically everyone in the office, from graduates to directors, are more than happy to help you out or point you in the right direction. If you or your team are stumped on something in particular, you can easily send a mass email to all the other engineers for their suggestions. Everyone is very helpful.

90% of the time, there would always be something for me to do. There were only a few weeks where there was not a lot of work depending on the phase of the projects, but on occasions, there'd be other projects requiring an extra pair of hands. Overall, I was kept busy but still able to work at a good pace i.e. not having to be overworked.

I was given a range of responsibilities during my time, from simple ones such as producing mark-ups for manufacturers to more heavy responsibilities which involved taking complete ownership of some aspects of the project but again, everyone is always at hand for any question and to guide you in the right direction.

Seeing as this is the first place I’ve worked, I have developed a range of skills and hopefully picked up some good habits having worked alongside some amazing people. This will definitely help me out in the future, especially when it comes to working in group projects and meeting new people.

The general atmosphere was very open and relaxed. It’s very common to see people walking around having a chat with colleagues and going for tea/coffee breaks. There are cakes every week from holiday trips or birthdays as well as other mini social events so it’s quite a fun atmosphere as well.

The first half of your first day is an induction where you’re given some very helpful information. You’re assigned a ‘buddy’ who is always there if you need any help. Generally, the placement went very smoothly with not many areas for things to go wrong, either HR related or work related.

During my appraisals, I was able to have a casual chat with my line manager about things that I’ve done as well as things I’d like to do. It also gives you an opportunity to find out more about the company. I was encouraged to join a mentoring scheme provided by Arup where you could work towards chartership and other groups within the company to develop other skills and interests.

Speaking to other senior members of the group, doing these placements or summer internships can play a big role in deciding whether you’ll be a suitable candidate in the future, not just for the position you work in, but within the company as a whole. Personally, my future prospects are definitely brighter if I re-apply with Arup again.