Placement positions can be invaluable. They help you gain work experience in your field of study with some practical use for all that theory. They give you an insight as to how a business operates and also skills that will help in you year(s) at university and beyond. We have a number of opportunities in the following areas and here is what the students got up to Engineering – Premises & Minor Works, Assistant Technical Manager Larissa Kunstel-Tabet I studied in North London and did A-Levels in Maths, Physics, Design and Technology, German and General Studies and AS-Levels in Further Maths and Politics. I chose to do a gap year because I wanted to confirm that mechanical engineering is the field I would want to pursue, it would also enable me to gain some technical and practical experience and make some money to fund living out for at least 2 years. During my year at Tube Lines I have worked within the Premises, Civils and Minor Works team and specifically doing assurance and project management of Intermediate Works (works greater than £20k). This has mainly been a desk bound job filling out application forms and liaising with contractors and members of other departments and teams within Tube Lines, particularly the Asset Engineers and Managers and from assurance approval teams. My main responsibilities are to assure each Intermediate work before project completion deadline. This involves writing, reviewing and submitting assurance documentation and writing and submitting applications such as space, building control, Bb224 and listed building. Also to assign document numbers, organise site visits for pre start meetings and monthly update meetings. I enjoy the working environment and work colleagues who are always very helpful and proactively try to ensure that my responsibilities are under control. It was a wonderful opportunity to project manage a trial at London Bridge and be involved from the start to finish, ensuring that the team were able to implement new technology on the London Bridge Group. The work was not very mechanical engineering based and therefore I did not acquire the practical experience I was hoping for. Also the department tends to take on a lot of projects causing stress for all team members, since they have to be involved in Minor, Intermediate, Internal and other projects. Also at some points during the year the lack of communication between the team and other departments and even team members has caused problems and stress which could have been avoided. I feel that this year has enabled me to become more organised and I have restructured the filing system of the Intermediate works team, been heavily involved in the creation of the Intermediate Works Work Instruction and created two new assurance documents for handover purposes. I have also been actively involved project managing two Intermediate works and have completed part assurance on over 20 projects. As well as this I have taken on the role of document controller, created a assurance starter pack for contractors and have been liaising with asset managers and engineers to try to improve assurance times and accuracy in order to achieve total assurance sign off within the deadline set by LU therefore avoiding abatements. All this has helped me develop my project managing and organisational skills and will be very beneficial for student and working life. The gap year, even though somewhat lacking in practical experience, had helped confirm my wish to study and become a mechanical engineer. It has enhanced my interest in public transport and transportation systems both in the practical sense and also in understanding the hierarchy and politics within a transportation company. In ten years’ time I would hope to be chartered and working as a project manager within a company, expanding my skills and gaining as much knowledge and experience as possible. I would recommend to other students that they ensure a year in industry is definitely something they wish to embark on before University and that their role relates to the course and experiences they want to have. It is a great opportunity to experience a working environment and become more mature. It can also provide a great skills base and training which would otherwise be unavailable, and some well earned money which can go a long way during student life. It has been an invaluable year and I have enjoyed it thoroughly. The most unforgettable moment was having my photo taken for the “On The Move” (LU) magazine on HMS Belfast and a meeting there, it helped confirm that the trail I was doing at London Bridge was truly valued and that it was beneficial for all those involved. Also my final week has been memorable since I aim to sign off two projects which I have been assuring for the past year. Communications - Communications Assistant Louise Caldicott As part of my Public Relations degree, the third year is spent working in industry. Tube Lines advertised for a placement student in their Communications department, which covers internal communications, external affairs and public affairs. This was a massive appeal to me. After visiting the head office in CanaryWharf and meeting my colleagues at my interview, I was really enthused about the position. Fortunately they phoned my a few days later to offer me the position. During my year at Tube Lines I have really felt part of the team, and not just a intern. I have worked on some important projects and been given the opportunity to have my own discreet projects. Such things as organising a political event, helping to launch and maintain the company’s intranet, working on a media campaign and writing articles for the media and employees have been the highlights. My colleagues are always willing to help me and have embraced me as part of the team. They have given me the opportunity to work on some challenging projects, which all help to build up experience. I have been sent on PR training courses and on a secondment to a PR agency. The only downfall is that the company’s work is very specific and sometimes quite technical. You soon learn the jargon though. I knew before my placement that I wanted a career in public relations. I am still unsure what I want to do in the future, but I know more about what direction I want to progress in after working at Tube Lines. My colleagues have taught me the qualities I need to get to the top of my profession and my areas of improvement. My advice to those considering a year in industry is to go for it. These opportunities are invaluable and provide an opportunity for personal and professional development. I would apply for as many jobs as you can and to not be particular about location or pay. At the end of the day, the experience you gain from a placement is the most important factor. This will help you in your future career, as employers will chose you over the candidate with just a degree. My most unforgettable moment so far has to be the night of this event that I had spent months organising. The spokesman got up to the podium and was introducing himself. He proceeded to say that he was here because a lady called Louise Caldicott had contacted him. He then asked me to stand up. I had about 60 people applauding me. It was embarrassing, but great to know my hard work was appreciated. My leaving do was pretty memorable too! Assurance & Contracts - Contractual Assistant Tom Baker During my A-Levels, I felt I needed a Gap Year to take a break from exams but spending my time constructively gaining an invaluable experience in the world of business. I also felt it would be an ideal way of giving me the leading edge over other applicants after I graduate. I had been recommended to the Year in Industry scheme (YINI), so decided to apply in March 2005. Within a couple of months, YINI had sent me a few Job Descriptions relating to business, of which Tube Lines seemed the offer the most valuable and exciting placement, so I asked them to forward my CV. Thankfully Tube Lines offered me the chance of an interview and within a few weeks I had confirmation of the position in Assurance and Contracts department. I was also thankful that Tube Lines gave me the flexibility to leave my placement before the full year in order to go travelling, which I was also keen on doing. Since September 2006, I have been involved mainly with correspondence between London Underground and ourselves and have been commended with TRACS Awards for my efforts. This has enabled me to gain a wider involvement throughout the whole company and enable me to assist other employees with queries about the PPP Contract. Even though sometimes there were quiet periods, the fairly regular meetings with my Line Manager enabled new, challenging tasks to be assigned. Other roles: Establishing and managing a Claims database Assisting Sales Manager in evaluating Commercial Exploitation Being part of a team to create content for new Intranet Formalising Procedures for ISO9001 for audits I have enjoyed the fact that I have gained a lot of experience and skills whilst having a good time and making lots of new friends. There were also many opportunities to meet people across the business such as through the football teams I played with (see picture). An article appeared in the monthly Platform Magazine, which was very pleasing to see. I would have to say my night visit was my most memorable moment. This involved working a night shift and seeing stations that were undergoing works which I had been involved working with during the day. I was then asked to write a report on my experience. During my Gap Year I have developed many skills which I feel will help me at University and also at my chosen career. My advice to other people considering a working Gap Year is to ensure that you know what you want to achieve at the end of it, so you can get the most out of it. Even though I don’t feel I will be working for an engineering company in the future, my placement has been a valuable insight into working life and would like to thank everyone that has been part of this opportunity.
Placement positions can be invaluable. They help you gain work experience in your field of study with some practical use for all that theory. They give you an insight as to how a business operates and also skills that will help in you year(s) at university and beyond.
We have a number of opportunities in the following areas and here is what the students got up to
Engineering – Premises & Minor Works, Assistant Technical Manager
Larissa Kunstel-Tabet
I studied in North London and did A-Levels in Maths, Physics, Design and Technology, German and General Studies and AS-Levels in Further Maths and Politics. I chose to do a gap year because I wanted to confirm that mechanical engineering is the field I would want to pursue, it would also enable me to gain some technical and practical experience and make some money to fund living out for at least 2 years.
During my year at Tube Lines I have worked within the Premises, Civils and Minor Works team and specifically doing assurance and project management of Intermediate Works (works greater than £20k). This has mainly been a desk bound job filling out application forms and liaising with contractors and members of other departments and teams within Tube Lines, particularly the Asset Engineers and Managers and from assurance approval teams.
My main responsibilities are to assure each Intermediate work before project completion deadline. This involves writing, reviewing and submitting assurance documentation and writing and submitting applications such as space, building control, Bb224 and listed building. Also to assign document numbers, organise site visits for pre start meetings and monthly update meetings.
I enjoy the working environment and work colleagues who are always very helpful and proactively try to ensure that my responsibilities are under control. It was a wonderful opportunity to project manage a trial at London Bridge and be involved from the start to finish, ensuring that the team were able to implement new technology on the London Bridge Group.
The work was not very mechanical engineering based and therefore I did not acquire the practical experience I was hoping for. Also the department tends to take on a lot of projects causing stress for all team members, since they have to be involved in Minor, Intermediate, Internal and other projects. Also at some points during the year the lack of communication between the team and other departments and even team members has caused problems and stress which could have been avoided.
I feel that this year has enabled me to become more organised and I have restructured the filing system of the Intermediate works team, been heavily involved in the creation of the Intermediate Works Work Instruction and created two new assurance documents for handover purposes. I have also been actively involved project managing two Intermediate works and have completed part assurance on over 20 projects. As well as this I have taken on the role of document controller, created a assurance starter pack for contractors and have been liaising with asset managers and engineers to try to improve assurance times and accuracy in order to achieve total assurance sign off within the deadline set by LU therefore avoiding abatements. All this has helped me develop my project managing and organisational skills and will be very beneficial for student and working life.
The gap year, even though somewhat lacking in practical experience, had helped confirm my wish to study and become a mechanical engineer. It has enhanced my interest in public transport and transportation systems both in the practical sense and also in understanding the hierarchy and politics within a transportation company. In ten years’ time I would hope to be chartered and working as a project manager within a company, expanding my skills and gaining as much knowledge and experience as possible.
I would recommend to other students that they ensure a year in industry is definitely something they wish to embark on before University and that their role relates to the course and experiences they want to have. It is a great opportunity to experience a working environment and become more mature. It can also provide a great skills base and training which would otherwise be unavailable, and some well earned money which can go a long way during student life. It has been an invaluable year and I have enjoyed it thoroughly.
The most unforgettable moment was having my photo taken for the “On The Move” (LU) magazine on HMS Belfast and a meeting there, it helped confirm that the trail I was doing at London Bridge was truly valued and that it was beneficial for all those involved. Also my final week has been memorable since I aim to sign off two projects which I have been assuring for the past year.
Communications - Communications Assistant
Louise Caldicott
As part of my Public Relations degree, the third year is spent working in industry. Tube Lines advertised for a placement student in their Communications department, which covers internal communications, external affairs and public affairs. This was a massive appeal to me. After visiting the head office in CanaryWharf and meeting my colleagues at my interview, I was really enthused about the position. Fortunately they phoned my a few days later to offer me the position.
During my year at Tube Lines I have really felt part of the team, and not just a intern. I have worked on some important projects and been given the opportunity to have my own discreet projects. Such things as organising a political event, helping to launch and maintain the company’s intranet, working on a media campaign and writing articles for the media and employees have been the highlights.
My colleagues are always willing to help me and have embraced me as part of the team. They have given me the opportunity to work on some challenging projects, which all help to build up experience. I have been sent on PR training courses and on a secondment to a PR agency.
The only downfall is that the company’s work is very specific and sometimes quite technical. You soon learn the jargon though.
I knew before my placement that I wanted a career in public relations. I am still unsure what I want to do in the future, but I know more about what direction I want to progress in after working at Tube Lines. My colleagues have taught me the qualities I need to get to the top of my profession and my areas of improvement.
My advice to those considering a year in industry is to go for it. These opportunities are invaluable and provide an opportunity for personal and professional development. I would apply for as many jobs as you can and to not be particular about location or pay. At the end of the day, the experience you gain from a placement is the most important factor. This will help you in your future career, as employers will chose you over the candidate with just a degree.
My most unforgettable moment so far has to be the night of this event that I had spent months organising. The spokesman got up to the podium and was introducing himself. He proceeded to say that he was here because a lady called Louise Caldicott had contacted him. He then asked me to stand up. I had about 60 people applauding me. It was embarrassing, but great to know my hard work was appreciated.
My leaving do was pretty memorable too!
Assurance & Contracts - Contractual Assistant
Tom Baker
During my A-Levels, I felt I needed a Gap Year to take a break from exams but spending my time constructively gaining an invaluable experience in the world of business. I also felt it would be an ideal way of giving me the leading edge over other applicants after I graduate.
I had been recommended to the Year in Industry scheme (YINI), so decided to apply in March 2005. Within a couple of months, YINI had sent me a few Job Descriptions relating to business, of which Tube Lines seemed the offer the most valuable and exciting placement, so I asked them to forward my CV. Thankfully Tube Lines offered me the chance of an interview and within a few weeks I had confirmation of the position in Assurance and Contracts department. I was also thankful that Tube Lines gave me the flexibility to leave my placement before the full year in order to go travelling, which I was also keen on doing.
Since September 2006, I have been involved mainly with correspondence between London Underground and ourselves and have been commended with TRACS Awards for my efforts. This has enabled me to gain a wider involvement throughout the whole company and enable me to assist other employees with queries about the PPP Contract. Even though sometimes there were quiet periods, the fairly regular meetings with my Line Manager enabled new, challenging tasks to be assigned.
Other roles:
I have enjoyed the fact that I have gained a lot of experience and skills whilst having a good time and making lots of new friends. There were also many opportunities to meet people across the business such as through the football teams I played with (see picture). An article appeared in the monthly Platform Magazine, which was very pleasing to see.
I would have to say my night visit was my most memorable moment. This involved working a night shift and seeing stations that were undergoing works which I had been involved working with during the day. I was then asked to write a report on my experience.
During my Gap Year I have developed many skills which I feel will help me at University and also at my chosen career.
My advice to other people considering a working Gap Year is to ensure that you know what you want to achieve at the end of it, so you can get the most out of it.
Even though I don’t feel I will be working for an engineering company in the future, my placement has been a valuable insight into working life and would like to thank everyone that has been part of this opportunity.