When we talk about the Year in Industry at SMA, this is the kind of story we mean...
Grace Morgan was studying civil and environmental engineering at Cardiff University when she joined Edwards Diving Services (EDS) for her placement year. EDS specialise in marine and civil engineering projects in unusual locations—think castles, coastlines, rivers, tidal beaches. Exactly the kind of environments where engineering gets tested and people grow fast.
Grace came in as a trainee project engineer. Instead of watching from the sidelines, she was trusted to get involved from the start, taking on real responsibilities and contributing to the team’s work across planning, tendering, contracts, and project management.
“I was fortunate enough to work on over 25 different projects through my placement – no day was the same!”
That mix of variety and responsibility is what makes placements so valuable. Grace learned in months what might otherwise take years, and she did it with the support of a team willing to trust her and challenge her.
Some highlights stood out for Grace:
- stabilising moat banks at Caerphilly Castle;
- contributing to adaptations of a lifeboat launch ramp for the RNLI at New Quay;
- and being given the lead on demolishing a small bridge in Pontypridd, which meant developing a programme, pricing the tender, and writing the required site documentation under CDM, including a Construction Phase Plan.
“Although an initially daunting task, having the responsibility to take lead on a project was an experience I will never forget. It afforded me the opportunity to challenge myself to take ownership of my decisions.”
Grace’s placement wasn’t only about engineering...
It was also about communication, teamwork, negotiation, and initiative—the things employers look for just as much as technical know-how. Later in the year she worked on the RNLI lifeboat ramp tender, where she carried out material take-offs, contacted suppliers, and created an emergency evacuation plan for a busy tidal beach, the kinds of details that show just how far a student can come when they’re immersed in industry and the lesser discussed jobs that connect all the dots in important projects.
“My year in industry was invaluable. It allowed me to build professional relationships and explore different areas of civil engineering, helping me to decide my career direction.”
This is why we champion placements: they give students clarity, they sharpen decision-making, and they make the move from university to industry smoother, more confident, and more rewarding.
Grace’s work with EDS led directly to a graduate job offer with financial sponsorship for her final year.
Grace will return to EDS in 2025 as a Graduate Projects Engineer, ready to contribute from her very first day back.
“I was offered a graduate job including financial sponsorship during my final year in university… I am looking forward to going back as a Graduate Projects Engineer in September 2025!”
This is the quiet magic of placements, where a year of discovery becomes the first step of a career. Employers spot future talent early, and students leave university with experience that sets them apart.
At SMA we’ve seen time and again how transformative a Year in Industry can be.
Grace’s story is just one example (read more here!), but it captures the essence: confidence built on trust, knowledge gained through experience, and careers shaped by opportunity.
If you’d like to find out how a Year in Industry could work for you—or how your organisation could welcome students who may become your next graduate engineers—talk with our Year in Industry Coordinator Sian Stocker, and explore the programme on our website.
