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Staff
Full of potential
The life of a structural engineer By Chris Pollett
The routes into a career in structural engineering have changed significantly in the past two decades . My path into the industry was very traditional – A Levels , degree , master ’ s , job – but there are now numerous options , and we see ever-increasing numbers coming through alternative pathways such as part-time degrees and apprenticeships .
There is still a perception with some people within the industry that a traditional full-time university degree is an essential part of a structural engineer ’ s education , but from my perspective , this isn ’ t the case – using our team as an example , we have some exceptional talent that has come through apprenticeships or a part-time degree route .
The opportunities to learn within a business are vast . Most engineers will start on smaller and simpler projects such as residential schemes , but as you progress , steel frame structures can provide a more complex challenge . As you progress , you get more contact with and exposure to industry colleagues , as well as more time on site with clients .
It ’ s important when nurturing those new into the industry that they get exposed to different types of work . If not , it can breed boredom and you risk them becoming pigeonholed in one specific area , which isn ’ t beneficial for either the fledgling engineer or the company they work for .
Getting out to sites and meeting clients is a massive opportunity for those just starting on their journey , and I think this is something that really comes through when working for an SME rather than one of the industry giants where new recruits may find themselves chained to their desk for the first few years . ccemagazine . com 11