Case studies : Graduate engineer: Emily Meechan

Emily graduated in 2009 with a BEng in Civil Engineering with Architecture. She has completed one year of a three-year graduate training scheme at Jacobs, working in highways, road and infrastructure.

I am one year through my three-year graduate training scheme working in one of the world’s largest providers of professional technical services. At the moment I am working on a major infrastructure project in Edinburgh. The project is of national importance and will deliver a key element of the country’s future transportation infrastructure.

The majority of the work is consultancy based. My team discusses and negotiates with the companies involved in some of the key utilities, such as gas, electricity and water, which are affected by the location of the proposed bridge and the associated connecting roads.

We meet the companies on a regular basis to discuss the proposed diversionary works and the cost of the works associated with the diversions. I find that my skills in listening, speaking clearly, good note-taking and problem-solving are constantly in use. The technical theory and practice gained from my course has enabled me to understand the content raised in these meetings. I would also say, working with a variety of people in my team with different levels of experience, especially those who have been on the graduate training scheme for two or three years, has helped me.

As part of the three ear long training course at Jacobs, I have to complete key skill objectives such as communication, problem-solving and computer skills. Running alongside this I am working towards chartership of the Institute of Civil Engineers, for which I have to write a training report every three months as well as demonstrate that I am picking up the required skills. Liaising with the utility companies, via meetings, emails and letters has helped me develop my communication skills.

This is not the first time I have worked on a major project. After my second and third year at university I worked at Jacobs as a summer student, where I was fortunate to have an internship. During my summer placements I worked on major roads projects in and around Glasgow. I worked in a team liaising with SEPA, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, to minimise the environmental impact of a road on the watercourses and the surrounding habitat. Reducing the environmental impact is a requirement for all civil building projects such as these. It is also a key feature of the graduate training programme.

Working as a summer placement student has definitely helped me work out what I wanted to do after university and I would advise anyone unsure about what field they want to work in to try to do the same. I chose my company because it has a lot of experience in civil infrastructure in the UK and also internationally; I like that because I find it really interesting working on major projects that benefit our transport and our society.