Undergraduate Engineer Review

I really enjoyed my placement at JCB. As part of their sponsored Undergraduate Scheme I completed a number of shorter placements and moved around the business. This let me see completely different sides of the company, which is great if you are unclear about what sort of engineer you want to be. There is a flip side to this, as it gives you less time to integrate to a new department and make larger contributions. For me this was a price worth paying, but its something that can be frustrating if you already know what you want to do and you have to work in other business areas.

This varied on the placement, but generally I felt that the people I worked with valued the work I did. People are busy so don't expect a standing ovation every time you do something right, but on big projects the managers certainly say well done, which is a nice boost. Overall most departments I worked in were very forthcoming with praise though.

I often find it difficult to ask for support, but if you ask for help the vast majority of the time you will get it. Resources can sometimes be a little thin but if people can help they will. Its a company that seems to be built on everyone owing a favour to everyone else, so generally people recognise that if they help you then soon you'll be in a position to help them.

You are as busy as you let yourself be. Certainly in the larger departments there is always more then enough work to go around, and on occasions there were a few late nights but that is part of the course and to be expected. If you do work late though you will not be alone. Your boss won't give you a stack of work and say do that, I'm going home.

Same as above, If you prove to people that you can handle responsibly on smaller tasks then they will get bigger. The speed and ability that you complete these to determines what you will be doing in the future. But within a 4 month placement you will usually be responsible for a project that you alone work on. If you take this seriously then you could see something you work on make it onto a machine. Don't underestimate how quickly things move in JCB, 4 months may not sound like a lot but they push things through very quickly when they want to.

I received a lot of training while working for JCB. I wouldn't necessary say that this enhanced my skills that I use at university but the opportunities that they give you certainly do, and as with any company you come back a lot more motivated and with a clearer vision of what you are going to university to do.

A tricky thing to rate. Certainly the people that you work with are very friendly. You will probably get invited out if there are any social events going on and people are always happy when there is cake around. But by the same token people are busy and open, especially in the World Headquarters you get the feeling that things can sometimes be a little tense.

Bar a few instances, the placement was organised excellently. At the start of the year they tell you what departments you will be working in and when, what other activities you will be involved in (things like Engineering Education Scheme, School engineering clubs, charity events etc.) and who you bosses will be.

Personal development is important to JCB, and as a placement student you will be given a mentor for IMechE development. In terms of courses and financial investment in you however there is more that could be done. People asked if it would be possible to go on a basic hydraulics course (fairly key to a lot that goes on in the company) and were told that there was no money available for this. So both yes and no really.

I loved the company and I really enjoyed working for them, but it isn't without its downsides. Biggest of all is lack of flexibility. All company holidays are taken during factory shut downs, you do not get to decide when any of your days off are taken which includes working some bank holidays (as stated above though, you do get 33 days off a year). This is not ideal but you do get used to it. Flexitime would also be nice, but sadly this is not offered formally by the company (some gentlemans agreements exist but these are the exception and not the norm). I would go back though, you can't give a greater endoursment then that really can you?

The year I was an undergraduate there were 14 students on the undergraduate scheme and another few dotted around the business. For the most part you all live in the same street in houses that JCB own. This is really sociable and you kind of get the feeling that you are all in it together. As you often work closely with other undergrads you get to know each other really well. maybe not so good if you don't like mixing work with pleasure but I found it great fun. You learn a lot off each other too.

Not expensive particularly. Only thing note worthy is there are 3 petrol stations in uttoxeter where I lived and they price fixed with each other, so you pay a bit of a premium there. other than that its fine. You have to travel to get anywhere interesting, so thats an added expense i guess.

To quote a wise and knowledgable undergraduate: "distinctly average at best". The local "club" leaves a lot to be desired, your living in the middle of the country side though... what do you expect? Derby, Stoke and Stafford aren't too far away but it takes some planning if you want a night out.

There are charity events like the mud run, there are running clubs and groups of people playing 5 a side and netball and things.