Michael chose to gain some practical experience to support his MEng and undertook a summer placement with Balfour Beatty. He has found the experience invaluable, and looks forward to working at Balfour Beatty once he has completed his studies.
Tell us a bit about your role, the project you are supporting and the type of work you undertake on a daily basis.
My role as a summer placement student with Balfour Beatty was to complete a power systems technical project. This involved modelling a large power plant in software then running different studies on the model including load flow and fault level analysis. This then allowed me to specify the circuit breakers required and to look at the potential for future expansion for the system.
Also, I was asked to complete the graduate business familiarisation programme where the graduate must interview several staff member within the power sector (in my case other areas such as environment, rail and mining) and identify what their roles were within Balfour Beatty, their day-to-day tasks, what documentation they produced and so on. This allowed me to build up a picture of the company and to identify that the company success is based on the breadth and depth of skill and knowledge that the staff members within Balfour Beatty possess and that they successfully work together in projects.
What attracted you to Balfour Beatty?
Balfour Beatty's well-known brand image which reflected the technical skill of the staff. Moreover, the staff members I met were really keen on people, in particular graduates and that they excel. I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement so far and I feel that these qualities have been a part of my enjoyment.
What development opportunities have you been given while in your role?
Through Balfour Beatty, I attained my Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Safety Passport. This is a card, which is valid for 5 years and means I can visit site locations.
As I am based in the Glasgow office which is quite small, I was able to head down to Manchester to visit a larger office and speak to a lot more people about their roles and the company in general.
I will also be visiting Drax power station to give me some site experience which will be later in the placement. This will be a completely new thing to me and I will be able to build on this experience in the future.
Overall, Balfour Beatty has really emphasised that they want me to have every experience possible within my placement as it will all contribute towards my professional development.
How has Balfour Beatty played a role in your long term career goals?
I am very keen to pursue a consultancy role where I can take on different projects and continually learn while working. Balfour Beatty has encouraged me in my ambition to develop my skills and have discussed with me the attributes of consultancy work.I am far more aware of the importance of continuing professional development and I am very encouraged that Balfour Beatty will support me in my future development as I work with them.
What has been your highlight so far with Balfour Beatty?
To date, my visit to Manchester was a highlight of my Balfour Beatty experience. This was due to the amount of people I came into contact with and the enthusiasm they showed towards a young student. In my experience with Balfour Beatty, everyone is engaged in their job and keen to share their knowledge.
What one thing that surprised you most about working for Balfour Beatty?
The range in projects that Balfour Beatty is involved in all over the world, which shows the skill of the staff for being technically competent in such a wide area. I was aware before that a consultancy will undertake a range of projects, but the scale of this fact was surprising. It made me encouraged that as a part of this company, I would be able to learn a lot from some of the best people in the industry.
The support and communication is to a high standard. No matter who you are speaking to, they will always treat you as a person and an equal.
What are top three tips would you give to anyone thinking of applying to Balfour Beatty?
