Graduate profiles - Highways
Tom, Graduate Systems Engineer
University and degree:
Nottingham Trent University/First in Electronic and Communications Engineering
Business Unit/Stream:
Highways Division
"I was mainly doing Design Engineering in my first role, so I wanted my next step to involve more project management and client interaction. With their consultative approach and large, interesting projects, Mouchel fitted the bill perfectly."
Active Traffic Management
"Since joining Mouchel I have been a member of the Controlled Motorways Consultancy team, working on the development of new electronic signage and speed enforcement systems, designed to give our client greater control over the flow of traffic on their network.
This equipment has now been installed as part of the Active Traffic Management Pilot Project on the M42. The signage allows variable speed limits to be implemented depending upon traffic conditions, and gives the option of opening the hard shoulder as a running lane when required.
The enforcement equipment works in parallel with the signage, ensuring that drivers comply with the variable speed limits and making sure traffic flows smoothly.
I've been involved in all aspects of the project, including the development, testing, installation and commissioning of equipment, and the project management needed to ensure that project milestones are delivered on time."
Seeing a project through
"A typical day might see me out on site dealing with contractors, troubleshooting equipment problems, or working closely with our client to ensure their needs are met.
Today I've been liaising with the Police to develop a test procedure as we prepare for handover, and it's been really satisfying seeing the project through all its different stages.
The best thing about working here is the sheer variety of projects. I've had the chance to participate in desktop studies, night works, and I've even been invited to present two papers I've written at the ITS World Congress later this year."
Graduate profiles - Property
Chris
University and degree:
University of Nottingham/First Class BA Management Studies
Business Unit/Stream:
Government Services, Property
"As a non-cognate student, I came into the industry with very little specialist knowledge, but plenty of enthusiasm to get involved in such interesting work. I undertook a RICS accredited post graduate conversion course with the University of Reading, which gave me a broad introduction to the surveying profession. I constantly build on this and find myself learning something new on the job everyday. I am just over half way through the minimum period required to become chartered with the RICS and this is a major objective of mine.
The team in which I work is made up of a number of building surveyors with a range of skills and experience. Our work consists primarily of making alterations and improvements to the county councils buildings and also creating new buildings to support the county’s growth agenda. For us surveyors, the projects range in value from £10K to £1M, lasting from a few months to over a year or two and involve professionals from a range of disciplines.
I have been given the responsibility to run several projects under the guidance of a more experienced colleague, who is always available to give advice and answer my queries. Initially these have been lower value refurbishment and internal alterations which are of a suitable scale and degree of complexity. I am also assisting a colleague on a larger scheme to provide a Sure Start Children’s Centre as an extension to an existing school.
I enjoy the challenge that the role provides, having to solve problems and be creative, I never find myself watching the clock. ‘Each day is different’ is a widely used adage but nonetheless perfectly applicable here. I might perform one or a number of activities including: surveying a site, developing a design, writing a specification, writing a stage report for one of our clients, liaising with other specialist disciplines including mechanical, electrical or structural engineers, planning officers, building control inspectors and health and safety experts and co-ordinating with contractors when the project gets on site."