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Are you an Engineering student with an interest in design, who is looking for a year-long placement?
The employer makes large steel and ceramic structures. It’s a great business, where huge importance is placed on developing staff. They are looking to take on a placement student for a year, starting in June or July 2025.
The business has less than 200 staff, and you will be doing an actual job for them. This means you will learn loads, and it will look great on your CV (which will really help you when it comes time to apply for graduate jobs).
As all the parts of the business are on one site, you’ll be able to see how they all work; right from when the product is designed to when it leaves the site.
They have taken on placement students over the last few years; and If the dates work out the plan is for you to have a week or so with one of the current placement students when you start, so you can speak more about how they have found it. Which is very helpful, as they were in your position a year ago- and have grown a lot since then.
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING
You will be getting hands-on experience, working on real projects that will make a difference to the business.
You’ll learn about drawings and modelling; and will produce 3D designs for customers. You will work with manufacturing to develop cost effective design solutions; and work with other departments to deliver projects on time in full and to budget.
You will be working particularly with the manufacturing team as they will build the structures that come from your designs.
There is also a focus on continuous improvement within the department to speed up delivery times and improve quality levels; so you will be involved with various things related to that. Again, this will be great to have on your CV.
Some of these specific things may not be familiar, but that’s ok as training will be given.
FEEDBACK FROM A PREVIOUS PLACEMENT STUDENT
The thing I've enjoyed most is the work environment. Everyone is really friendly and I was made to feel part of the team from day one. Everyone is more than happy to answer any questions I have and I have got involved in a variety of things. I am also involved in things such as quarterly meetings, which allows me to understand the logistics of an engineering company and the struggles it faces.
In terms of work, I have my own tank projects where I'm working directly with clients to produce tank models and engineering drawings for them to then send to the factory for manufacturing. I am also part of the CNC team where I produce an engineering drawing of each tank, consisting of the flat pattern of the tank (for on-site construction) and individual sheets with the right CNC code.
As well as this, I have been involved in some development work, modelling certain parts or tweaking things to improve the overall efficiency of manufacturing - this involves coding the software so that it automatically changes components based on the selection of a part.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
This is a year-long sandwich placement, and only for undergraduates who are looking for a year-long placement as part of your course.
Knowledge of CAD is essential (ideally 3D), and as it’s an industrial environment an engineering degree is going to be the closest match- ideally Chemical, Process, or Mechanical.
Some previous work experience is ideally required; the type of work is not important (it can be retail, hospitality, administration, or bar work, for example).
You'll also need GCSEs in Maths, English, and a Science subject.
WHERE YOU’LL BE WORKING
Thurnscoe, a town which is in the area between Rotherham, Barnsley, and Doncaster. Also commutable from Sheffield. There is a train station nearby, or you can park on-site if you drive.
You'll need to live within reasonable commuting distance (say 20 miles maximum). Some previous students have relocated, and there are several options if you are looking to do this.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED
Please apply asap, interviews are due to take place in February or March, and applications will be reviewed as and when they are received. The placement has just been confirmed on 22nd January, so we need to move quickly.
