Junior Operations Project Engineer Review

I found my placement with Air Products very enjoyable. I was given challenging work and excellent support throughout the year. From the beginning I had real responsibility and was given genuine work that was valued by the team. The graduate council really contributed to how much I enjoyed the year, providing a great community of young professionals for guidance and advice.

This year I really felt like I was a valued member of the team. I was trusted with important work from team members, who would sometimes come to me for answers to queries. The good work I did was recognised and rewarded by my manager and supervisor, which made me feel valued and respected.

I have had an excellent supervisor who encouraged my development by allowing me to work independently, but also giving great support and guidance when needed. He has given me continuous feedback which has helped me to recognise areas that I need to work on, leading to significant development in core skills such as communication.

I have been very satisfied with the level of work I have had this year. Work has come in waves with very busy periods, and some quieter periods depending on the project timeline. But I have always had work I could be getting on with and have had very few dull moments throughout the year.

I was the project engineer for an important productivity project and was given the responsibility to ensure it was delivered safely, on time and on budget. I had to lead meetings and report progress to senior engineering and business managers as I was the one accountable for the project delivery.

Developed vital communication and teamwork skills in my project engineering role that will be important for the rest of my time at uni, and when I go into a graduate role. My technical skills have been developed slightly as I've seen concepts in practice and got to work with a variety of engineers, but didn't have the most technical role.

There is a great sense of community in the office which makes it a pleasure to work in. People will go out of their way to help you, and take a genuine interest in the work you're doing and your development. Everyone is very approachable and will be happy to answer any questions, or point you in the right direction.

The placement was well organised by the HR team. I was given the job description ahead of time and helped to settle in with induction days and a 'buddy' scheme. The structure was clear and sufficient information was always provided. Any questions are always answered quickly, and it was clear how progression onto the grad scheme could be achieved.

I took part in several training courses throughout the year which will be useful, however these were mainly company specific. Opportunities for external training courses could be helpful.

I would be very excited to join the Air Products graduate scheme, as there are a great variety of roles available and I have thoroughly enjoyed working for the company this year. The scheme is accredited by the IChemE, and you are assigned an IChemE mentor to assist with getting chartered. There is also a great CDP community and support system.

The CDP council provided an excellent social scene for placement students and graduates, with regular social events after work and eating lunch together. Events varied from casual trips to the pub, to exciting events such as curling and trampolining. I have made some great friends throughout the year, and the social scene has really contributed to my overall enjoyment.

As the office I work in is based near London, prices of both living and socialising were high. About half my months wages went on rent, meaning it was hard to save money. The cost of socialising is high, but there is a lot to do.

In the immediate area of the office there is not much to do with only a few pubs, but London is half an hour away on the train which meant there was always something to do! Also there are other places within half an hour, and a good social scene with other people from the office.

The CDP council provided plenty of things to get involved with outside of work, including many social events and a customer site visit. There were also many opportunities to get involved with outreach activities to promote STEM to younger children. This was supported and encouraged by the company and training was provided.