• I wanted relevant work experience for my degree

• I wanted a break from formal studies

• I wanted to earn money for a year

• I didn't know what career I wanted at the end of my studies, so wanted to gain experience

• I thought it would improve my graduate prospects

• It seemed like a good use of my time

• I wanted to develop on-the-job skills to help the rest of my degree

• I wanted to put my skills I had already learnt into day-to-day use

The highlight of my time at Dowty was being asked to present the findings of my Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) flow modelling study at a technical QRM. There was a large audience present, with many important members of the engineering department. This was a great privilege as it was a showcase of the R&D activities at Dowty. It was refreshing to be given such a level of responsibility on a project, which was very successful in improving the current process, as well as introducing a tool to the business that would allow further improvements as its full capabilities are discovered.

An added bonus was that I found the work extremely interesting and exciting, as I was able to build on my experience in CFD and coding techniques, as well as the opportunity to work with a whole host of different organisations.

• A greater awareness of which sector you want to work in

• Developed technical skills

• Developed professional skills

• A wider professional network

• Increased motivation for your studies

• Friends through your workplace/ other Placement students

• Experience of living somewhere different

Don't be afraid to ask for help, you are not expected to know everything. Just ask as many questions as possible; if you see something interesting, ask about it, this is how I got involved in my most interesting projects. Just dive in.

Benjamin has collaborated closely with industry leaders (NCC, AMRC) to obtain material permeability test data and share modelling best practice. This was a very challenging project, and he’s produced outstanding results in a remarkably short time frame. The outcome will help us to design a better part, process and tool for what is potentially a key future product to Dowty. 

Using recruitment resources (e.g. RateMyPlacement, Gradcracker, Milkround, TargetJobs)