Industrial Placement Student Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement with Atkins, I feel that I got a great amount of experience from working there. My only improvement would have been the opportunity for more variation during the course of the year.

My colleagues at Atkins were one of the main reasons that I enjoyed my placement as much as I did.

I was given a great amount of support by my manager, but only because I was proactive about organising it.

I was constantly busy, being given large workloads with a long deadline, so it was up to me to manage my own time.

During my placement I was given a huge amount of responsibility. Whether this was helping to prepare a bid, or working to help make a decision that affected my entire team.

My placement with Atkins has not developed skills that will directly assist me with the content of my degree, as I have not spent it designing which in my opinion is the main focus of my degree. But it has definitely developed the skills that I need to perform better in my degree and in my career afterwards.

The atmosphere in my office was great, my team were always having a laugh, this meant that we communicated well about work, as noone had any hesitations about asking anyone else for a hand.

During the first week my placement was fairly unsettled, as if they weren't expecting me to be there. With no set desk or task. After the first week I was assigned to a team and a project, and given my own desk.

I have spent my year using Nemetschek All Plan, to begin with this required a large amount of training for myself and my team. I have also been able to visit a number of sites. As well as attending multiple seminars. Atkins also payed for me to gain my CSCS card.

Atkins is such a large organisation that there are always so many opportunities within the company, including the ability to travel.

Working in the Epsom, Woodcote Grove office, the socials were quite infrequent.

I lived in Clapham South and worked in Epsom, both of which are fairly expensive areas to live and go out.

I never stayed around Epsom, living in Clapham South I would always go out in London.

Atkins has a number of sports teams you can be involved with, I actually organised my own cycle rides outside of work with other colleagues. Atkins also provide subsidised trips and events.