Engineering the Next Generation

WWith the summer holidays drawing to a close across the UK, we took the opportunity to connect with some of the students who spent their summer with us for work experience this year.  

In engineering, access to work experience is incredibly beneficial for students, whether they are in secondary school, college, or university. It not only helps students refine and acquire new skills, but it also provides them with the opportunity to expand their professional networks and explore different specialties within the industry. This hands-on experience that we offer is invaluable in helping students understand their options and make informed decisions about their future careers. 

At Wallace Whittle, we value the opportunity to educate and guide the next generation of engineers, whether through work experience placements, apprenticeships, or our graduate schemes.

We aim to give students a taste of the various disciplines within our offices, from electrical and mechanical engineering to sustainability and BIM/CAD. We also offer work experience opportunities in other areas, such as finance and marketing. 

Since students are sometimes unsure of the specific area they want to specialise in, experiencing a range of activities within engineering can help them focus their interests and may even ignite a passion for something they had not anticipated! 

This summer, our Glasgow office hosted Fenella, a secondary school student, for a work experience placement. During her time with us, she worked with several of our engineers, exploring different areas of mechanical and electrical engineering. She also learned mechanical calculations and gained hands-on experience with basic systems in a BIM 360 model—skills that are rarely taught in secondary school. 

Fenella left Wallace Whittle with practical skills and a clearer understanding of how she wants to progress in her final two years of secondary school. 

“The team at Wallace Whittle were very welcoming and supportive during my work experience, especially John and Asim. They were always open to questions, no matter how big or small. I had the chance to learn and apply what I had learned!“ Fenella also shared. 

John, one of our Glasgow Associates who mentored Fenella during her time with us, also shared:

“I was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity as a graduate with Wallace Whittle, and 15 years later, I’m still fortunate to work on a vast range of projects across various sectors—all while continuing to learn and develop my own skills. It’s incredibly rewarding to see students come through the Wallace Whittle doors, develop their skills, and leave feeling encouraged and motivated to continue this career path. Hopefully, I’m contributing to the learning and development of others coming through behind me.” 

At Wallace Whittle, we not only provide students with a variety of tasks across different disciplines, but we also tailor our approach based on their age and experience level. We have a training project specifically designed to accommodate various levels of experience and knowledge, allowing students to learn at their own pace. Depending on the length of their work experience, this can evolve into direct input on live project designs. 

For older students, such as those currently studying at university, we offer opportunities to work independently. This experience is invaluable not only for gaining practical skills but also for adapting to the professional environment. University students are rarely exposed to office settings as part of their course, so having the chance to work independently in such an environment can help to ease the transition from academia to full-time employment. 

Our Edinburgh office was joined by Minnie over the summer, an Architectural Engineering student at Herriot Watt University who is due to start her 5th year to obtain her integrated This summer, our Edinburgh office hosted Minnie, an Architectural Engineering student from Heriot-Watt University who is about to begin her fifth year to obtain her integrated Master’s degree. During her time with us, Minnie has worked on various tasks, gaining experience across different disciplines within the office: from Sustainability to Mechanical. 

“The office atmosphere is incredibly welcoming, and I have enjoyed learning from the professionals here!” Minnie also shared. 

During her time here, Minnie worked alongside several members of our Edinburgh team, including Euan, one of our Graduate MEP Engineers. Euan shared his thoughts on mentoring students:

“The services in buildings can often go unnoticed by those not involved in their design or installation. It’s rewarding to see students gain knowledge in areas they’ve never had to consider before—and even more so to watch them apply that knowledge to the tasks we give them.” 

We also spoke to Jennifer, one of our Senior Mechanical Engineers, who also mentored Minnie during her time with us. Jennifer noted:

“Minnie is currently taking the same course at university that I graduated from a few years ago. It’s been great to see her applying the skills she’s learned at uni in the industry, and hopefully, it helps her make sense of the theory taught in class.”

Work experience placements play a crucial role in shaping the future careers of students, providing them with practical exposure that complements their academic learning. By stepping into a real-world work environment, students can bridge the gap between theory and practice, gaining firsthand experience in how concepts are applied in everyday engineering tasks.  

At Wallace Whittle, we strive to create an environment that nurtures and develops the engineers of the future, equipping them for further education or a career in the industry. With our expected growth and the opening of new offices in Birmingham and Manchester, we anticipate hiring an additional 30 junior staff members over the next three years.  

If you’re interested in joining Wallace Whittle or learning more about our work experience and apprenticeship programs, please reach out to us at [email protected] or visit our dedicated webpage: https://www.wallacewhittle.com/apprenticeships/