Currently studying BEng Civil Engineering at Cardiff University, Oliver Gwilliam is using his placement year at Cambria to gain valuable hands-on experience beyond the lecture theatre and to prepare himself for life after graduation.
We sat down with Oliver to give insight into his time at Cambria so far and what he has learned within the industry, as well as what he plans to do at the end of the twelve months.
What do you hope to gain out of your placement with the Cambria team?
“I’m hoping to gain as much hands-on experience as possible, not just to help with my final year at Uni, but to really prepare for life after graduation. I want to understand the industry inside-out so I can hit the ground running and make the most of my degree.”
Can you describe your role at Cambria, and what a typical week looks like?
“My main responsibilities are to integrate into the working environment and not to cause disruption while completing every task given to me with 100% effort. It’s also my responsibility to show up on time every day with the correct attitude.
“I’m lucky that my directors make sure I get the opportunity to go out on site every week, giving me the chance to experience things firsthand. When I’m not on site, I’m in the office, which is perfect for me as someone new to the industry I get to surround myself with experienced professionals and work in a productive environment.”
If you had to pick a favourite project or task you have worked on so far, what would it be?
“My favourite project so far has to be the Ysgol Rhyd Y Grug new school building, as I was able to be involved with the design of the foundations and other substructure calculations. I enjoy tasks that challenge me and keep me busy.
“If I ever get stuck, I ask the other engineers around to make sure I never go off track. The main reason I enjoy them is because I like the satisfaction of completing a hard task and seeing how they make a change to real world issues.”
What skills have you learned or improved during your placement?
“I have developed a lot of skills including communication, maths, report writing, standards, and how to fit into a working system. My report writing has improved a lot, and my language has adapted to be more technical and formal which will really help going into my final year of university.
“Every so often, Cambria holds Continuing Professional Development sessions (CPDs) at lunchtimes which I attend to gain a wider understanding of the industry. During my time at Cambria I’ve also carried out a first aid course and attended a few charity events such as football and padel tournaments. I also spent a day with Gwent Wildlife Trust helping control the invasion of willow trees at Magor Marsh.”
How has this placement at Cambria helped you to understand your chosen career path and what are your aspirations when looking ahead?
“I’ve had several conversations with the Directors who have guided me toward achieving chartership and shared valuable advice on how to work towards it during my placement year. Working at Cambria has also shown me how rewarding it is to be part of a close-knit team where you never feel alone or overlooked.
“Looking ahead, I’d love to continue my career in an environment like this, and I want to keep making a real difference and work towards becoming a respected chartered engineer.”
