My course has given me the confidence to go out into industry and know that I have a well-rounded knowledge of many different aspects of engineering. Two years after graduation I switched from the nuclear industry to the offshore wind industry, which was no problem thanks to the comprehensive sound engineering education I had received.
As Project Engineer with Van Oord Offshore Wind Projects I am currently working on preparatory works for the Gemini Offshore Wind Farms (Netherlands). I am responsible for the management of the foundation design and the design process. The thing I like the most is that I get to work on the project from conception right through to completion, as I work for an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor.
The offshore wind industry is young which makes it dynamic and a very exciting place for a young engineer. The industry is also crying out for motivated engineers and there are plenty of opportunities to travel.
Plymouth University is very well ranked for engineering but it offers a lot more too. Being close to the coast combined with the city centre campus were other factors that drew me to study here. The teaching and access to academic staff is great, and if you want to get more involved with things you are actively encouraged to do so.
As part of the course I spent a year doing a number of paid work placements with consultants and structural engineers, as well as with Van Oord UK. This variety gave me a good idea of what I did and didn’t want to do when I graduated. The placements also gave me the confidence that I could apply things I had learnt in the classroom.