MEP Intern Review

When I applied for the placement I was already excited - due to the reputation of the company I knew it was going to be such an amazing opportunity - but working here has exceeded my expectations completely. I have learned so much more than I could have hoped, whether it be insights into the design of different systems, or practical lessons about working in the industry that I can only be learned through experience. The lessons I’ve learned I know will now help me not only when I go back to university, but as I further my career as an engineer. Overall, the placement has made me very excited about the career I have chosen, as well as excited about the company itself. The working environment constantly encouraged me to give the company my best work, and the willingness of the team at BuroHappold to spend time sharing their knowledge with me has meant I am leaving having gained so much more than I ever thought I would.

I was always made to feel like a “proper” member of the team rather than just an intern, which made it really easy to get settled in. I worked on different projects during my time here, and was always fully included, e.g. by being invited to meetings relevant to the projects I was working on. This made me excited about the projects since being included in these discussions meant I had a better understanding of the projects I was working on. Overall I was treated equally, like any other member of the team, which made it a very positive place to work. The office is very relaxed and everyone has been very friendly. Only problem is it means I'm very sad to leave!

My line manager, Catherine, provided exceptional support throughout my time at BuroHappold. She regularly checked up on me, and was always available to help when I needed assistance. She always explained things very well and in detail, giving me extra information where she knew (from experience) that it would help me. She, along with the rest of the team, were also keen to share any documents and learning websites that they thought might be beneficial to me in the future.

Thanks to careful forward planning by Catherine I was always kept busy, often with challenging tasks that made coming to work really interesting. If one day Catherine did not have a task to assign me at that immediate time, she arranged for another member of the team to give me some work. This meant I always had something to do, and also give me the chance to work with different engineers on different projects and benefit from their knowledge too.

As previously mentioned I was treated like an equal by the staff. This meant that after a task had been explained to me, I was left to work on it on my own without constant supervision, unless I felt it was required. Being left to my own initiative to complete my assigned tasks made me feel very valued and trusted as part of the team, and the sense of responsibility encouraged me to work hard and present my best work at the end.

The placement given me more confidence in my ability as a building services engineer. At university, a lot of the subject matter is very theoretical, so it is sometimes disheartening if there is a subject area I feel I am less capable in. However, working as a mechanical engineer has shown me that my ability to do the job in practice has much less to do with my level of theoretical knowledge than my university course had led me to believe (so long as a good understanding of all relevant concepts is there). During my time at BuroHappold I took part in training sessions in various pieces of software that I know will benefit me not only when I return to university, but also in my further career. The experience I have gained from being part of the mechanical team in a working environment will set me apart from other students, and has given me knowledge I can carry forward with me.

The atmosphere in the office is very open and relaxed, whilst inspiring employees to work hard. I could tell that each of the teams are very close, which meant we had several social events during my time there. It was a great balance - you could often hear laughter and chatting amongst collegues (sometimes even the whole team), but when it got down to it, everyone worked exceptionally hard and knew how to balance it out.

Detailed correspondence prior to commencement of the internship meant all my questions were answered. We were greeted on the first day by the business coordinator, and introduced to everyone in the office (particularly those in our team) to make sure we were settled. On the first day we had a meeting during which we were given a talk about the company from the office head. At any time, any of our questions were answered by our line manager or the business coordinator. I could tell that BuroHappold were proficient in running internship schemes, as everything went very smoothly.

As previously mentioned, I was able to take part in several training sessions in various pieces of software. We also had regular Continual Professional Development (CPD) sessions on various aspects of the company or various disciplines, and I learned a lot during each one. Since I am about to start my fourth year of university, I am beginning my dissertation project. After finding out the topic of my project, a couple of my colleagues put me in touch with some contacts who would be able to help with my research. I was delighted that they wanted to help. One colleague even put me in touch with the Copenhagen branch of the office since he found out I was focussing on it for my project, and since I had a trip booked in August anyway, managed to arrange for me to go to the Copenhagen office of the company to discuss my project with them. I was also given the opportunity to go on a 2-day site visit to Glasgow during which I learned a lot. My line manager made sure to ask if there was anything in particular I wanted to learn during my time, which again made me feel very valued.

I now have a much clearer understanding of the operation of BuroHappold and the work that goes on within the company. As well as the mechanical side of the business, which I have loved being a part of, there are many other sectors within BuroHappold that I have a particular interest in. Since starting university I’ve had a good idea of my career plan. I want to work for a company that offers potential for continual development and growth, and also the potential for travel, since this is a passion of mine. Also, somewhere with a positive atmosphere that encourages innovation and is constantly moving forward. From what I have seen BuroHappold encompasses all of these factors, which has made me excited about my future career, but also has made me keen to work for the company in future.

BuroHappold has a group called the Young Engineer's Forum (YEF). I was told about the group on my first day, and was invited to a meeting to explain what they do. The YEF were responsible for arranging the CPD sessions that were so beneficial, but also for arranging many socials not only for members of the group, but for the whole office. We had a few lunches and dinners, and even a wine and cheese tasting, all of which were great fun. All these events were also subsidised by YEF which meant the interns didn't have to pay, and I thought this was generous. There were 4 other interns working in the office, and we often had lunch together or chatted around the office - we all got on very well.

I live in Edinburgh, so when I applied for the placement I specified that I would prefer to work here. This meant I had no extra living costs, and was used to the cost of socialising (both of which I think are reasonable).

Edinburgh's nightlife is always amazing, no matter what type of atmosphere you are looking for. There is something for everyone, and its generally a very social place.

We were invited to every event put on by the YEF, which included several activities outside of work. It was great to have the chance to get to know colleagues better out with the office environment.