Intern - Geotechnical Engineer Review

Arup is a very highly reputed firm within the engineering industry. Especially the civil engineering industry. It was very enjoyable with nice colleagues (very happy to help/answer questions) and interesting projects (with a good variety). A very good social side (team lunches, lunch time talks, football leagues and softball matches...).

Arup respects all level of engineers. They are happy to provide training, share knowledge and provide young (trainee) engineers with complex challenging projects. There is a strong reliance on the work produced by interns - the work makes a difference on real projects. There is a sense of importance in the work undertaken.

Arup managers/supervisors in my team were very open, respectful, knowledgeable and happy to help at any given time (even out of hours). In general, help is always available when you ask for it. Additionally, the internal intranet system is a good source of information for general questions. If all fails, the team coordinators are able to answer general questions.

As expected, the first few days are settling in, meeting people, getting to understand the projects and other admin duties. After the preliminary days, the work starts to build up. Based on my experience, there was always a good exposure and the team kept me busy with various interesting projects throughout my time at Arup!

Arup is respectful and gives all members some degree of responsibility. Responsibility varies with individual levels of experience and qualifications. Therefore, in most cases undertaken work is checked internally and then sent to external clients/firms. Responsibility also varies with personal skills and knowledge, better understanding of the task and program tends to yield more responsibility. Overall, responsibility was fine.

I tend to develop more skills through direct industry work than through education. It has been very helpful. Arup is an excellent company with many workshops, skills training, collaborative learning and lunchtime talks. All of this information ensures that the staff and students are well equipped with the latest knowledge, experience and advice they require. At times, there is so much to get involved in; it becomes a matter of picking where to attend.

The office is very busy, active and lively. There are always social events running for various departments of the company. During the working day, the office is very quiet, Thus, allowing consultants to think and carry out important calculations without too many unrequited distractions. Out of hours, the social committee always run events, every couple of weeks; these include sports competitions, social drinks, bake sales and various other activities.

The placement was very well organised. The company is experienced at providing high quality placements. It really shows through the great experience that Arup has provided me. The work is set to the right level, challenging enough to keep me thinking, but not too hard to involve overtime work. Therefore, the placement work was organised to the correct level, thus, I really enjoyed my placement.

Arup is happy to invest in the future of the company (and greater industry) - just need to ask and ensure that there is a business case for investment. In general, engineering events and reasonable expenses will be covered - from my personal experience I did not really require training for my time at Arup.

Arup is a very highly reputed firm within the engineering industry. Especially the civil engineering industry. The company has over 12,000 staff members and is still growing. It has a vast amount of experience in all civil engineering fields. In particular, Arup still holds true to its core values, leading to large amounts of success. Clearly, the prospects are very high for a multinational firm.

I met regularly with other placement students within the London office. This was a great way to share experiences and meet likeminded people. The firm also holds social events for lower level engineers. These networking sessions are very useful, allowing staff to engage and learn more about the progresses and achievements of other members. There was also football and softball competitions. There are running, sailing and other sports groups.

London is fairly expensive. However, the costs are manageable and reasonable. However, some care needs to be taken. Generally, the most expensive part of London is travelling and accommodation. Apart from the that, the food and other living costs are fairly standard. Additionally, if the placement is paid then there is not much to worry about. i recommend not letting the finances govern the decisions you make.

The nightlife was excellent. London is known for its nightlife. There are many places to go out and eat, cinemas, local pub, nightclubs and social sporting events. Therefore, the nightlife is excellent and something to make the most off. I highly recommend, going out and enjoying some of what London has to offer. Especially if you do not live in London.

There are always lots of things to do in London. Arup is a very social firm. It is always organising events for staff members and individual teams are also holding lunches and dinners. London has a lot to offer. Just make sure to get involved and meet as many people as possible.