Summer Intern Review

Although I found it difficult at times, I really enjoyed my placement. I was placed with the Geotechnical team as my background is in Geology and I was hoping to progress into Engineering Geology, which the placement helped with enormously as I learned a lot of Engineering terminology. I found the difficult parts of the placement which were more Engineering based quickly became a challenge though and I knew I could always ask for help.

My colleagues at Arup were extremely friendly and I found a number of staff from different departments such as Hydrogeology/hydrology came down to talk to me about my background and what I was hoping to pursue after finishing my undergraduate degree. I found that although I wasn't with Arup long enough to be of value, colleagues were doing their best to include me in as many different projects as possible, which made me feel more valued.

On a number of occasions I was introduced to new software or a new concept within Geotechnics that I was unfamiliar with. I was continually supported by the colleagues I was working for, and also by those sat close to me if they thought I was struggling or if I asked for help.

I only had a few days where I had completed my work earlier than I had expected and the member of staff who I was reporting to at the time was out on site. This meant I was asking other staff if they needed any help and occasionally I found I was waiting to be given something to do. The majority of the time however I had a good amount of work to keep me busy (and occasionally some overtime).

I was mainly helping out on existing projects up until some of my final weeks where I was involved in the initial stages of a project which involved me going out with one of my colleagues on a site walkover. When we had returned from this I was given a list of things we needed to know and then left to my own devices to complete these tasks in a given time frame. I was aware that nobody else was checking my work or helping me with it, which is very different to University and also a relief. I was also tasked to complete some work for a different colleague on another project earlier on in my placement which I was allowed a little more responsibility and asked to present my findings in the teleconference for the project as my colleague was unable to at the time.

The skills I learned at Arup have already played a vital role in my studies - I am now studying for an MSc in Engineering Geology and I have found that I have already used a number of skills from my placement with Arup. I have also found I have drawn upon the knowledge I gained with the Geotechnics team to influence my work at University. I feel that these are invaluable skills and knowledge which will help me past my studies and in my future career.

The atmosphere was very good, the overall atmosphere was one that everyone was hard working but everyone had time for a coffee break with each other and came across from varying departments to discuss a project over coffee. I wasn't aware of any conflicts of interest or issues with any members of staff, in person or via e-mail. I was also invited out with the team on a number of occasions for drinks after work which made the office much more friendly.

I had been in contact with the Geotechnics team a week prior to starting to make sure that everything was still ok for me to attend. This was fine and was noted to other staff, and when I arrived I was expected and had my own desk set up. The only problem I had was that my e-mail had not fully been set up and nobody seemed to have any work for me to help with on the first day, so I spent most of the day waiting to get started with e-mails.

My placement was fairly short however my colleagues were all very interested in taking me out on site so that I was able to experience a variety of projects and see what Arup does on site. I had a health and safety induction, a site safety induction and was out on site 3 weeks into my placement. I was aware that had I stayed longer at Arup I was able to have more training for a variety of things and this is something that I enjoyed most about the company.

My placement was originally scheduled for 4 weeks however I was enjoying being with Arup and they were happy for me to stay with the Geotechnics team for a further 3 weeks until I went on holiday. I really enjoyed my placement and intend on applying for a job with the company, as I feel it is a hard working yet friendly company and I am really interested in the training and development that Arup offer which other companies do not.

As colleagues transfer across the country to different offices there was always either a welcome or a leaving do which most colleagues went to. I was under the impression there were a number of sports teams, and while I was there a number of staff from the Leeds office took part in a boat race on Clarence Dock, which was supported by many. It sounded great fun and it's something I would have liked to have been more involved with had I been a permanent member of staff.

Due to the location of the office the surrounding bars and cafe's were not priced for students, however they were much more suited for young professionals and I can imagine the costs reflect this.

A number of staff enjoyed going for a few drinks on a night, we walked from work into town one Friday to have a couple of drinks which was really nice.

From the Arup Newsletter and other colleagues there sounded like there were a number of opportunities to get involved with outside of work, such as football, tennis, running, various other sports activities and events. Had my placement been slightly longer these are definitely something I would have been interested in being involved with.