How long have you been with AMEC and what have you been working on?
I have been with AMEC for just under two years, commencing my career in 2008. Initially, I was based in our Norfolk office working in the brownfield area of the business and after about 5 months I moved to AMEC's Old Street where I fulfilled the role of Mechanical Engineer, working with another team member on the BP Clair project. Between the two of us we covered all aspects of platform design cases. This gave me massive exposure to this area of work.
Does your role afford you the chance to get involved with community type projects?
During my initial period at Old Street, I immediately took up an additional position as Community Representative and became the established link between AMEC and schools in the local borough where we now have work experience students coming into the business. I often go into schools and talk about my career and my degree and I see this as a really worthwhile exercise to both the students and AMEC. After about 6 months as Community Representative, I started co-ordinating the whole Graduate Focus Group which encompasses our community and charity work and we have also introduced a 'lunch and learn' service with lunchtime lecturers with industry fabricators and vendors.
Has a career with AMEC given you the opportunities you hoped for?
Yes, plenty. Focusing on my role as a Mechanical Engineer, I did a national diploma as I enjoyed Maths and Physics, particularly with a bias towards automotive and mechanical engineering, before commencing and gaining my B.Eng status. I applied to AMEC for a job as I was interested in centrifugal systems – particularly as my dad is a racing driver, it was a natural path for me to take, as I too, race as a single racing driver.
Operating as a Requisition Engineer, I work with different interfaces of the project, with engineers and the supply chain. I enjoy my exposure to a variety of disciplines within the business and I am also a 'marketplace champion' for sustainability. This involves ensuring that we are acting responsibly, aligning our tendering processes to UN policies. There are four key areas here – global compact awareness; ensuring our supply chain is socially responsible and has awareness; internal training and providing 'lunch and learn' training to staff so that they can incorporate these points into their day-to-day work. The London focus group also supports other AMEC graduates in their training, development and integration when they join in September.
Over the coming months we will receive bids from vendors so I will go through the bids and clarify items on the project, then I will perform audits on site to ensure Quality Assurance and Health & Safety Executive legislation is conformed to. Once we have done a bid analysis, we then place orders with manufacturers. We have to follow the requisitions through to fabrications, which will hopefully lead to gaining valuable experience in a fabrication yard within a location in the Far East.
Do you have interaction with colleagues in AMEC offices overseas?
Since November 2009 I have also been involved in a think-tank to focus on engineers of 2030 so that we can prepare for changes in the future. We 'meet' for conference calls on a weekly basis liaising with personnel in Baku, Houston, Calgary, Knutsford and London. This is valuable time when thoughts and experiences are communicated through other divisions in the business.
In the absence of a crystal ball, what does the future hold for you?
I see my longer-term future with AMEC. The company has been very clear in its encouragement for a good career path so you can aim your aspirations high up the company. All management encourage you to push yourself. I have an immediate objective to become a Chartered Engineer, then hopefully run a department, then perhaps move into an engineering management role.
Any interests outside of AMEC?
With regard to interests outside of my work environment, I am an age group tri-athlete and recently got back from Lanzarote. I also run a triathlon club outside of London. There are only 15 members at the moment. We train and enter races – swimming, cycling and running. I also race a single seater car called a Mallock. It looks more like a batmobile than a road car. All races take place around the country on the national circuit.