Student stories

My summer internship at Flock Mobility has given me a number of opportunities such as creating software for sustainable mobility and getting an insight into the work culture of a start-up.

My time with Balfour Beatty sparked my ambition to become a Chartered Engineer starting in Ground Engineering, and to pursue my plan of becoming a leader in the construction industry.

Every project I did on placement involved an element of collaboration, and the leadership, communication and teamworking skills I gained have really supported my group project work.

University is great for gaining a whole range of knowledge you need, but a placement year gives you the chance to develop on a personal level and use that knowledge to create real world impact. At its core, engineering is about solving problems, and a placement year gives you the perfect opportunity to do that.

There’s no typical day at Hewson: it’s a fast-paced work environment with new challenges each day, and I’ve worked on over 15 different projects since starting here.

My placement experience was great overall: it taught me plenty and helped me make some really good professional connections. I was given a lot more responsibility than I expected as a placement student.

I do enjoy the salary, but the best part is definitely the people I’ve met – everyone has been so pleasant, welcoming and helpful.