Graduate profiles - Energy
Tom Cuthbert, Design Coordinator, Energy
University and degree:
Loughborough University/First Class honours in Mechanical Engineering
Business Unit/Stream:
Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Mouchel Energy
"The Energy division within Mouchel attracted me to join the company. Within this business stream, projects are undertaken relating to oil and gas (and much more). This is a dynamic and diverse sector of engineering and consultancy, with endless prospects for varying disciplines. Within Energy there is a vast array of engineering and project management experience, with certain members of staff being renowned experts within their field. This is an ideal scenario for an ambitious and developing engineer to capitalise on!
Energy has in house experience in disciplines such as Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Instrumentation & Control, as well as project services. I am part of the Mechanical team, based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, primarily working on the design and project coordination of High Pressure Gas pipelines and Above Ground Installations (AGI)."
Projects
"I have been involved in a number of projects to date, including the Brecon to Tirley 1220mm diameter Pipeline Project. This is a huge project that involves the design and construction of a cross country pipeline to link the Milford Haven liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal to the national gas transition system (NTS). MP Energy is responsible for the design and engineering of the AGI's and technical support for the Environmental Impact Assessment on the project. On this project, MP Energy has also designed two of the largest Pressure Reduction Installations (PRI), which are located in Herefordshire and South Wales, as well as facilitating the design and layout of the main pipeline route.
I have been involved in projects such as the Teeside Gasport (the world's first dockside LNG regasification port) and a Pipeline project in Cheshire that entails facilitating underground Gas storage in Salt Cavities."
Roles and Responsibilities
"I have provided engineering and project coordination support on various projects. However, more recently, I have taken responsibility for the Design Coordination for the Brecon to Tirley Interconnection project and the Cheshire Pipeline feasibility study. This role involves generating the engineering calculations, designs and detailed reports. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the design coordinator to liaise and instruct the Designer (CAD Operator) with the direction and technical specifics of the project. This engineering role also requires the checking of designs and in depth familiarity of technical specifications.
I am accountable to the Project Manager, but take full responsibility for the coordination and consistency of design amongst the different disciplines in house that have involvement. This requires a good understanding of the other disciplines and excellent communication and organisational skills. I take part in regular design progress meetings with the client and lead the meetings in my areas of responsibility.
I continue to push my self in all areas of expertise and I'm supported every step of the way by Mouchel."
Graduate profiles - Land and Environment
Ivanka, Graduate Geotechnical Engineer
University and degree:
Imperial College London in 2005/MEng in Civil Engineering
Business Unit/Stream:
Geotechnical Team
"I was attracted to a job with Mouchel due to the impressive graduate scheme that was on offer and the friendly atmosphere in the offices. Due to the size of the company, the graduate scheme offers the possibility of moving between different roles, which was great as I was not completely set on which type of civil engineer I wanted to be. This has included working in the engineering services division, which helped me decide that geotechnics was the discipline for me."
The variety of engineering
"Working as a geotechnical engineer that services such a large multidisciplinary company, there is a large variety of engineering on offer. Mouchel has very experienced Rail and Highways teams that work on large projects for Network Rail and the Highways Agency. I have also had the opportunity to work on smaller schemes."
My role
"There isn't really a typical day that I can describe as the projects and roles that I play are so diverse. I have also had the opportunity to be involved in projects at a variety of stages. On the more technical side, I have been involved in desk studies including route options for new roads and site walkovers, site investigation design and supervision, slope stability analysis and foundation design, construction supervision and post-construction feedback. On several months at a time the softer skills side, I have been involved in project finance and programming and all of the contract management and health and safety management that comes along with being on site for."
Projects
"Most of my time at Mouchel has been spent working on Highways Agency communications schemes around London, including M4, M3, M1 and M23. These involve looking at historically failing embankments and providing foundation solutions for Variable Message Signs (VMS) such that the slopes are not adversely affected. This type of project requires liaison with many teams to come up with the best solutions for the structure, the communication system, the road safety design, and the environmental impact and buildability aspects of a motorway environment.
I am also currently involved with a couple of railway station upgrades improving public access to the station. This involves ground investigations and then the design of lift shafts and piled suspended footways along a steep embankment. I am also involved in the analysis of a failing embankment on a local road in Berkshire to find the failure mechanism and to recommend remediation solutions.
During my secondment to the engineering services division, I was involved in various structural and infrastructure schemes for London borough councils. One of these projects was the suspended footway design of which on my return to the geotechnical division, I am continuing with the subsurface design.
With the Land and Environment Business Unit, Geotechnics works closely with contaminated land specialists, ecologists, land mapping experts and environmental scientists. This provides a great opportunity to really understand the project well."