Civil Engineer - Placement Student Review

I really enjoyed my placement with JN Bentley, it really allowed me to value the skills and knowledge I gained at university and to realise how important they are when working within the industry. Completing the tasks I was given really gave me a sense of achievement, as they contributed to real projects within the industry.

During my placement, I was provided with tasks for real projects within the industry. This really made me feel as though I was part of the team and my colleagues were so helpful if ever I had any questions. I was always treated as a team member and was included within team discussions and meetings.

I always felt that I could approach my line manager and supervisor with any questions and they were more than happy to help with my learning and development. JN Bentley provided a placement year handbook which provided guidance throughout my placement year, as well as a personalised induction plan in which I was able to meet with my line manager on various occasions throughout the year to review my progress.

There was a very steady workload which allowed me to develop my time management skills and working to deadlines. There was never too much pressure as I was always able to ask for help if I was struggling slightly. The days absolutely flew by as I always had something to do and was constantly learning, but I had a great work-life balance.

I was quite surprised at the level of responsibility I was given during my placement with JN Bentley, as I'd heard about other placements where this wasn't the case at all. I was eased into my role and, as I became more familiar with the work, the level of responsibility entrusted on me grew. I always had someone I could ask if I wasn't sure on something so there was always support available if needed, but the sense of responsibility of working on real projects within the industry was amazing.

My placement allowed me to further develop the skills and knowledge I'd gained at university and really allowed me to put what I'd learned into context and understand the value of it. I feel so much more confident about going back to university for my final year thanks to my placement.

Everyone in the office was very hardworking, however there was always the opportunity to have a laugh. There was a real sense of teamwork in that if anyone needed help they always felt comfortable asking their colleagues for advice/guidance, as everyone had different areas of experience and expertise to share.

The work placement was very well organised in that I received a good introduction to the company, which is well structured in terms of management. I also received a personalised induction plan to help me set goals and assess the skills I developed throughout my placement. It was still quite flexible in that, if there was an area I felt I wasn't as confident in, I was able to ask to get some experience in that area.

I was provided with an induction to the company, as well as receiving health and safety training - which is valuable for my future career. I received regular reviews with my line manager/supervisor in which I was able to assess my personal development. 'Lunch and learn' sessions were regularly organised within the office, which I was able to attend to learn more about the industry.

I would definitely like to return to the company as a graduate if possible, as there seem to be many opportunities to progress within the company in future. From having spoken to graduates within the organisation, the company puts measures in place to help with the route to chartership and further development.

There were often social events, such as welcome lunches for new starters and team meals which helped me settle in to the company very well and get to know my colleagues better. I found that, although the placement students didn't necessarily work closely together within the office, we still kept in contact throughout our placements.

Although I lived at home throughout my placement, the cost of living around the office I worked in (Seaham) is very reasonable. There's a lot to do in the area with the office being close to Seaham town centre and there are very good public transport connections to surrounding cities.

The nightlife in the area I worked was really varied as Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham were all close by - so there was always something to do, from restaurants to bars. The work Christmas party took place in Durham, but the public transport is very good so it was easy to get a train to Newcastle, or the bus to Sunderland.

There was a lot to get involved in outside of work, such as organising charity events as well as sport and social events. In the past, the company have funded sport and social events such as go-karting and comedy nights, as well as a VR games evening within the office.