Mechanical Annual Placement Review

Working on the bottleneck line in the plant, the placement provides a good level of responsibility and freedom. When your not problem solving and fault finding the production line, time is spent on improving old systems. This provides a great opportunity to bring personal knowledge from studying into an aging industry and as a student your thoughts and ideas are always appreciated and respected.

With very limited practical experience through studying this placement provides a wide range of opportunities to get involved in more hands on work if that's something you're after. Personally I found being hands on with components and systems greatly improved my theoretical knowledge that I could then apply to my work in the office. Aside from general work there are numerous courses to enroll in and lots of learning opportunities

The level of responsibility is never overwhelming and support was always available. Your level of responsibility is dependent on you. Some days you do have to take responsibility for the production line. Staying on past work hours to fix problems and faults alongside a team of engineers from many disciplines. If you are someone who enjoys taken on responsibilities there's plenty of opportunity to do so

As with any new career, at first there is a large learning curve. Learning the processes, technologies and systems whilst getting involved in day to day activities will take time to settle into but there is always support throughout your time. Everyone from lead engineers to craftsmen are always happy to give advice and share their knowledge.

The steel Industry is slightly behind the times in many respects but on the whole there is a friendly atmosphere across the plant. The culture is changing for the better and it's often being driven by the younger generations of engineers. On the whole it's a very safe and friendly place to work, where its difficult to pass anyone without a smile and saying hello.

Very enjoyable placement experience with a great supporting team and opportunities that allow you to make your mark on the industry. It's often personal lead, if you have ideas and theories to improve the processes, there's space and time to carry out induvial projects. Yet there's always something new to learn from your peers. It's an enjoyable balance of office and practical work

Yes

Research the company and show interest in the processes and industry. Be prepared to get involved in practical work, often getting your hands dirty and be willing to stay on past working hours to support your team and get the line back up and running.