Max Lowson, student at Newcastle University, shares what they enjoyed about their year-long industry placement.
1. Where did you do your industry placement?
My first placement was with Wardell Armstrong based out of their Newcastle office but working away in Essex and the Midlands, then my second placement was with Murphy Geospatial working on HS2 in Birmingham, which is a new high-speed rail network which will connect Birmingham City Centre to London.
2. When did you do your industry placement?
I completed my first placement with Wardell Armstrong from August 2021 to April 2021, then my second placement with Murphy Geospatial from April 2021 to July 2021.
3. Why did you choose to do a placement with that organisation?
Working with Wardell Armstrong gave me the opportunity to work away from Newcastle while gaining business experience, as well as still being able to live with my uni friends in final year. While working for Murphy Geospatial meant I could live at home in Summer while continuing to work.
4. Why did you want to an industry placement?
To gain experience and maturity for 3rd Year, as well as be able to get a graduate job with lots of experience in the sector already. Having money in 3rd Year is also a nice change.
5. What type of skills did you learn during your industry placement?
Wardell Armstrong put me through qualifications to make me a competent person on gas works, including Health and Safety and First Aid. On top of this I learnt about working away from home and how businesses operate.
While working for Murphy Geospatial, I saw how large construction sites operate and how long-term monitoring of structures is conducted.
6. How has it benefitted you on the course?
I’ve come into my 3rd Year with knowledge of surveying I never previously had, been better at handing in work on time for deadlines and completing work to a higher standard.
7. What work did you do?
Completing topographic surveys ("topos"), utility surveying, drone flying, levelling, fixing seismometers and high precision monitoring.
8. What would you say to a student who might want to do Geospatial Engineering at University?
Do it 100% it’s so worth it, even if you don’t like the year out you’ll know what industry you don’t want to go in after uni, stopping you from enlisting in a lengthy grad scheme.
Thinking about studying Geospatial Engineering at Newcastle University? Click here for more information.