Summer Vacation Placement Review

The placement with Arup gave a great insight into practical structural engineering projects. They allowed me to contribute, go to sites and meetings as well as sharing their knowledge and experience to allow me to learn. I worked on a variety of structural types from the office, and learnt to scan buildings and create 3D models from this on site.

My colleagues listened and valued my opinion, especially in areas where I had learnt and explored things at university. For example my training in sustainability as well as cable net structures, which I gave a short session on towards the end of the placement as this was new to some people in the office. My day to day work was used and valued to help projects progress.

I was given good support and guidance from those with more experience, who were always happy to take the extra time to explain concepts to me. Although, the nature of it being the summer when I undertook the placement meant that large proportions of the team were of holiday for times during the placement, meaning there was less support and guidance in these times.

The work load varied throughout the course of the placement due to the nature of change within the project I was working on at the early stages. Overall I felt that I could take my time to learn how to do new things and work was tailored to the pace I worked at, meaning later in the placement I was busier due to having the skills to be able to complete work.

During my placement I was given more responsibility when I have shown my capability. Towards the end of the placement I was responsible for organising 3D scanning a building, with a healthy level of guidance and support from my managers. It was rewarding to be able to complete things I had taken some ownership of during the placement.

The skills and experiences of my placement will definitely be useful through the rest of my degree, into my career and my life. To name a few, I learnt new software and technological skills, developed my ability to communicate with colleagues and a design team of mixed disciplines, as well as increasing my technical understanding as a structural engineer.

The office was friendly and social, as well as hardworking. People were very approachable as well as being professional and conscientious about their work. There were regular socials organised and even competitions such as a bake off sweepstake. There was a sense of team achievement in projects and sharing the workload.

During the placement the length of time I was employed for changed several times, I think due to miss-communication. The general organisation when I arrived was less than seemless, however issues were overcome in a friendly and helpful way, generally very quickly and efficiently. Once in the team the work I was to complete was organised.

The company took the time to teach me relevant skills needed to complete my work. They were also always up for chatting about progress and how to be trained and developed within the job. If you asked to be a part of something or to learn certain things, they were always willing and open. There were regular lunch time training sessions on various things.

I will be applying for the graduate program with Arup, I think the firm has a good ethos and is a friendly and encouraging working environment. It is a company set up where you will require applying through a centralised system, so I will be completing the application in the near future.

Regular socials were organised in the office.

Sheffield is a bustling city with plenty of well priced accommodation, amenities and social activities.

There are good social places to go to.

There were regular activities that seemed to occur, although this seemed to be less frequent over summer due to the lower number of people in the office.