Geology Intern Review

Really enjoyed it, I have learnt so much as well as things I never thought about before. Nice people who were always available to help and answer any questions, as well as those who weren't responsible for me, but were happy to chat and talk about their background and how they got to working here.

They made me feel very welcome, and although the work is highly confidential, I was allowed to be told about as much as possible to help with my understanding. I was often asked to do things to help them when outside, and measure joints, stikes and dips etc for them to record

I have learnt to log boreholes, and any questions I had I received great responses. After being outside doing mapping or something else, I would sit down with a supervisor and they would explain to me what we did, why we did it and how we now use the information after.

Some days very hectic, some days not so, but mostly a good balance. The balance was between going outside and mapping, going on tours around site to inspect formations, doing slopes and then going to meetings, meeting people and learning about their jobs, and then from time to time doing reading to try to understand everything.

As it is such a confidential project, I wasn't allowed much responsibility but I understand it is difficult to give me responsibility all the time as I do not have the knowledge or experience, but I was able to do my own work and then compare it to what they had done, so I could learn.

They skills I've learnt are so beneficial to my future, as I can add additional skills to my CV to make me more employable. THis work experience in construction has made me keen to become a geological engineer as you have time inside and outside, and meet a lot of people for contacts in the future.

The atmosphere in the office is very positive. You get to know a lot of people as each bit of land has to go through a chain of so many people with many different roles. The office itself is open plan, so there are up to 50 people in the same room, so you can hear everyone which I think is nice.

The work placement was well organised to an extent, I was able to get experience in many different areas, some of which are not related to my degree but as I took an interest they took me, like to the labs where they measure the rock strength and the concrete production factory.

As I am only here as an intern, I didn't do serious development training, but I went to training on nuclear energy, transport safety and general safety on site. I also did my CSCS qualification which is compulsory if you want to work on a site, and this will be very useful for me in the future

If I wish, I could do a year long internship at EDF energy which they advertise. They have a large number of geologists on site. In the next few years demand for geologists may decrease as the project progresses, but there will be job opportunities in the other EDF nuclear power station projects, like Sizewell.

There is a wide range of ages and backgrounds at HPC, but this doesn't prevent people meeting up for lunch in the canteen, in the evenings etc. Many of them live in Bridgwater, cannington or on site, so there is a social scene definitely. There is a EDF football club that many people are active in.

Cost of living is quite good depending on where you rent. In Bridgwater it's quite low, so a lot of people rent a room here and then go home to all over the UK and beyond on their days off. In Bridgwater there are plenty of supermarkets, shops, and you aren't far from taunton or Bristol.

I do not know to be honest as I'm not as keen as going out as some people my age, but there is a club in Bridgwater called Palace that is popular. There are also may pubs and restaurants in Bridgwater that are popular with the workers. But as they are on a shift rotation, it can be difficult to go clubbing together.

I was invited to go for dinner with a group of girls who work at Hinkley Point, there is a football team as I mentioned is popular. Hinkley point c hold events occasionally such as an annual run and a tour around hinkley point b for families of those who work here.