This summer, we had the pleasure of welcoming Hannah Joels to Manchester as part of our placement program, here’s what Hannah said of her experience:

Q:How did your placement change your perspective of the industry?
'My perspective has changed as I didn’t know much about mechanical design engineers, their role in building services and whether it would interest me before starting. Now I’m really excited about the industry and find both mechanical and electrical engineering fascinating.'

Q:What did you gain during your placement?
'I gained an understanding of different heating systems and am now able to use AutoCAD. I learnt about containment and numerous topics in CPD sessions and feel my confidence in writing emails and speaking to manufacturers grew.'

Q:Which project/task taught you the most?
'I learnt the most in my 1st project as I was completely new. I didn`t know how to approach a project, the considerations required, calculations needed and equipment utilised. I gained a lot of knowledge and became more comfortable asking questions to members of the team and asking for help.'

Q:What was the most surprising thing you learned?
'That no matter the years of experience, people still ask others for help; to check emails and review projects, it's always better to have someone double check, especially email wording. This surprised me, but I became a lot more comfortable asking for help.'

Q:How has this experience prepared you for your future studies/career?
'This experience has provided me with confidence about the decision for my future career as well as confidence in myself. I have a sustainability module next semester with a topic being heat pumps and cooling, so this experience has meant I've gained an insight into these topics and will be confident with calculations.

Q:How has this experience influenced your future career goals?
'It has solidified that I want a career in building services, specifically as a Mech Design Engineer. Furthermore, I like the structure of the job; working on multiple projects with numerous possible solutions and how all the services are intertwined.'

Q:What advice would you give to other students considering a similar work placement?
'Ensure you properly understand the systems and do your own research. Make notes so you don't forget. Always ask if there’s any assistance you can give, you'll learn more and maybe learn something new. On a personal note, I would say don’t be too harsh on yourself. Accept that you'll make mistakes but try to learn from them. Ask as many questions as possible; whether you think they're stupid or not.'

Hannah’s enthusiasm, dedication and willingness to learn has been refreshing and we're eager to see how she will continue to grow her career. Thank you, Hannah, for your hard work and for bringing such a positive energy to our team. We wish you all the best in your studies and look forward to seeing the incredible things you'll achieve!