Industrial Placement Student Review

I've spent all my placement within the bridges team working on the Lower Thames Crossing project. Mostly day to day I've been given small tasks to help support others within the team. Other days I've been given tasks to complete more independently like calculations or making a quantity memo where I would check in with someone once or twice during the week so they could check how I was progressing.

Most of the tasks were done with the support of a colleague so I'd say I was given tasks to do independently but the would then be checked or whilst or after completing them.

I think I have developed my skill set in both a personal and technical way. Working in a professional environment, I believe I have become more confident in speaking up and approaching other people. I have also gained first‑hand experience of how teams work together and communicate effectively.
Technically, I have developed my understanding of industry tools, processes, and standards, and improved my ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real projects.

I believe I did receive a good amount of support during my placement despite my colleagues being busy with their own work, so only when time allowed. When I did not have any work to do I usually contacted my project team lead and he usually was quite good at getting back to me with tasks to do pretty quickly.

I generally found the company culture and overall atmosphere to be very positive. Many people agreed that there was a good work–life balance, and the company felt flexible and considerate of individual needs. Colleagues were approachable and generally willing to help, which created a supportive working environment.
However, I feel there could be more integration between different teams. At times, the workplace felt somewhat segregated, even within teams, with people tending to keep to themselves and socialising less. As a placement student, this could occasionally feel isolating, particularly as people did not always know who we were or what our role was. I also think a more structured onboarding process and more opportunities to socialise with other placement students would help new starters feel more included and settled.

I have overall really enjoyed my placement and found it to be a valuable learning experience. It allowed me to develop both my technical and professional skills while gaining a better understanding of how the industry operates in practice. I also enjoyed coming in to the office and socialising with my team.

Yes