Read on to see a few student and employer testimonials from our Year In Industry placements.
After their placements, students and employers have taken some time to offer insight into their experience with our Year in Industry Scheme, their time working together, and the many benefits gained as a result.
Keep scrolling to see written and video testimonials!
Student Testimonials
Grace Morgan, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cardiff University
"I’m Grace, a recent civil and environmental engineering graduate from Cardiff University, and I worked for Edwards Diving Services during my year in industry. Edwards Diving Services or EDS is a multi-disciplined marine and civil engineering contractor who offer unique solutions for clients across the water industry and other sectors. EDS pride themselves on their purpose of offering “Engineering solutions in challenging locations for a safer environment”.
I was a trainee project engineer within the Projects team that oversaw all civil and marine engineering projects. The team covers the entire project lifecycle from tendering, pre-construction planning, contract management, financial tracking and through to project closure. I was fortunate enough to work on over 25 different projects through my placement – no day was the same! Project highlights included moat bank stabilisation at Caerphilly Castle, lifeboat launch ramp adaptations for the RNLI New Quay and a small bridge demolition in Pontypridd.
I was given the responsibility to devise a programme and develop the tender price and for a small bridge demolition in Pontypridd. Prior to starting on site, I wrote and developed 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 - as a placement student, I never expected to hold this level of responsibility!
In the latter months of my placement, I worked with my supervisor to tender for the RNLI lifeboat launch ramp adaptation project. I conducted material take offs from the tender drawings, contacted suppliers about material costs and I wrote the tender stage risk assessment, considering the tidal environment and the active lifeboat station. I developed an emergency slipway evacuation plan alongside other site documentation, which presented their own unique challenges and lead me to consider the implications of working on a popular public beach, in a remote village and in a tidal location.
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. It provided the opportunity to apply academic knowledge in practice while developing skills in health and safety, communication, engineering and project management, as well as life skills such as negotiation and initiative.
I was offered a graduate job including financial sponsorship during my final year in university. It was truly a placement like no other and I would like to thank Edwards Diving Services and specifically, my supervisor, Nathan Walding for trusting me with this role within the projects team. I am looking forward to going back as a graduate projects engineer in September 2025!"
Amber Kite, Medical Engineering Student at Cardiff University
"Big thanks to my coordinator Kevin who did a fantastic job! My year in industry was the best career move I could have made, I have an amazing network now and have secured myself a graduate job for after uni. I loved my placement, and felt very supported by my placement coordinator and the team. They made sure I was enjoying the placement and getting the most out of it, but also took an interest in my personal well-being; my living situation, was I being paid enough, did I feel I was enjoying the placement etc. Excellent experience with the team at Symmons Madge assisting me. Would throughly recommend!"
Callum Thompson, Mechanical Engineering Student at Cardiff University
"My year in Industry was invaluable. It allowed me to develop my engineering and communication skills in a range of environments. The responsibilities given to me included working with patent attorneys to produce CAD models and drawings for submissions(also patented my own invention), developing our rapid prototyping facilities with a budget of $11,000 dollars and an outreach programme with the EESW . Alongside day to day work I took part in training opportunities and business trips. I was lucky to be chosen for a trip to Hannover for an international exhibition. As well as this, I led a project with many specialists to produce recommendations for improvements to our fatigue analysis from material understanding to FEA to control methodology. The year has given me an insight into many roles, developing an understanding of the commercial world. Overall, I felt valued, interested and enthused by my placement and feel one step closer to knowing what I want to do."
Camille Pope, Medical Engineering Student at Cardiff University
"For my placement year I worked for a medical device company who specialise in the in-house design and manufacture of single use bone cement mixing and delivery systems. I worked within the Research and Development department as the Intern Design Engineer. Everything I worked on was a “live” project and by the end of my placement I had gained many responsibilities that spanned across a variety of NPD/NPI projects. I fulfilled my want to work as a “design engineer” through designing a new bone cement delivery gun but due to the small nature of the company I was also able to explore other engineering avenues. I also worked closely with other departments and due to the nature of the medical device industry – the Regulatory Affairs department played a huge role in my placement. One of the things I am proudest of is the fact that I was very hands-on with the FDA 510(k) submission for one of the sports medicine devices the company design and manufacture, enabling it to be sold on the US market. For this I wrote test protocols, conducted testing and authored test reports that were submitted to the FDA as proof that the class II device was as safe for use as a predicate device already legally marketed in the US. I really enjoyed my placement and I learnt a vast amount. I now feel a lot more confident in finding and pursuing a career in the medical device industry once I have achieved my degree"
Employer Testimonials
Jon Cummings, Team Leader Reliability Engineer at Valero
"Carlos has continued to demonstrate all of the personal qualities we expect of our undergraduate industrial placement students. His polite, humorous and professional approach together with his increasing ability and confidence has allowed him to build good working relationships in not only the Reliability & Engineering group but also with the wider Engineering and Maintenance teams on site. Carlos is currently working with the Standards & Specifications SME and together they have developed both the site’s Engineering website and a key information databases, including one for the maintenance of all of the sites shell and tube heat exchangers. Carlos continues to support the Engineering teams with the resolution of Engineering Technical Queries (ETQ’s) relating to ongoing operational issues on site. As a relatively small dedicated technical team of Mechanical Engineers, supporting the refinery operation it is important that our undergraduates are disciplined and self-motivated in completing all the tasks assigned. Carlos has completed all of the tasks assigned diligently and in a timely manner, seeking guidance when required from the other Engineers. Carlos quickly fitted into the role, as previously noted, and has continued to provide increasing levels of technical support as both the breadth of his knowledge and confidence have developed. He is a welcome addition to the team".
Click here to see Carlos' video feedback.
David Foster, Head Of Research & Development at Summit Medical Ltd
“Here at Summit Medical have always been keen to support young engineers, either via direct graduate employment, post-graduate programmes or more recently via 1 year industry schemes as part of a student's Degree and / or Masters. We have found young engineers can contribute greatly to our business; bringing with them a comprehensive set of skills learnt as part of their degree, combined with a willingness to learn new talents and the positive energy of wanting to try new things. For the past two years Summit Medical have taken students from Cardiff University who are studying Medical Engineering. The course profile is very relevant to the projects we undertake (medical orthopaedic devices) giving an excellent grounding in the medical directives we use in industry and providing a sound basis for engineering within a medical environment. We have had two exceptional students working with Summit Medical over recent years, taking on responsibilities we would expect at a graduate level; producing outputs that have benefited both our business and the individual's experience. I would highly recommend other companies look to take on student interns via the Year In Industry Scheme.”
Video Testimonials
