Insights Power your future with a student placement

But I had plenty of other questions: Could I apply what I had learned in university to the company’s projects? How much innovation and cutting-edge technology would I be exposed to? Would I be able to work in multiple sectors to get a feel for which sector to pursue after university? Would the company offer flexible work hours? 

Atkins ticked all the boxes – and it didn’t hurt that I loved their open environment at the Hub, in Bristol.

It will be different for everyone, depending on the team you’re in and the work you are given. A large amount of my industrial placement was spent working on Finite Element Analysis (FEA) projects. I developed plenty of invaluable knowledge in that area, which I took into my third year of university.

On top of the fantastic industry exposure, Atkins Placement students get plenty of opportunities to gain confidence and learn business skills. I was able to develop my report writing and presentation skills to be more concise and professional.

As much or as little support as you want, everyone is happy to help if you ask them no matter how busy they look. In most cases, anyone giving you a task will have a good idea of the amount of support you will require and will make sure you have everything you need before you get started.

From my first day, I was treated like one of the team and put to work on some complex projects for some major clients. I soon got into a work routine: I’d get in at 8:30, find a desk in my team’s area and check my emails. I'd either continue work from the previous day or ask around for something to do. At first, I’d ask my line manager, but I soon got to know which team members would always have an opportunity for me and started working with them directly.

Friendly and relaxed!

What we do varies greatly from week to week, but every new task requires some level of learning and asking for guidance. I have a half-hour lunch break at 12 with all the other placement students and typically leave the office at 5.

Yes, the company culture is open and fun-loving. There are regular team socials and there’s often free food involved!

For my industrial placement, I found a house in Filton, 20 minutes away from the office. I shared it with some of my friends from university who were also doing placements at Atkins.

I use the bus which stops right outside the Hub and is free for Atkins staff!

Yes, I was offered competitive salaries for my industry and summer placements. For my industry placement, I also got 5 weeks’ holiday, with the option to buy or sell more hours.

There are no hard and fast rules, but team members usually wear shirts or blouses, and smart trousers or skirts. No ties or blazers are required!

Our Summer Placements last at least 8 weeks – just enough time to give you an insight into working at Atkins. Industrial Placements run for 12 months, immersing you into life at the organization. We have plenty of opportunities for you to reach your full potential – including direct placements in our prestigious Graduate Development Programme for top-performing students.

Places are limited and will be available starting in October, so start your placement process soon. Don't delay, speak to one of our grads today!