Investing in the future. SUCCESS scholarship scheme

“Having the industry experience before you graduate gives you a head start in your career and allows you to tick off some of the ICE development objectives which are required to become a chartered engineer .”Jon ButlerMEng Civil Engineering student sponsored by Tony Gee & Partners LLP

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Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton is a world-class centre for education, research and enterprise.

We train the pioneers of the future through our educational programmes, provide industry with innovative solutions to their problems, and have an impact on society through our world-leading research.

We pride ourselves on providing the most relevant education and experience. Drawing on our world-leading research and taking advice from our industry partners, we tailor our undergraduate programmes to meet the needs of employers and industry as a whole.

We encourage our students to seek opportunities to enhance their employability and since 2003 the then School of Civil Engineering and the Environment has been running the Southampton University Corporate Civil and Environmental Scholarship Scheme (SUCCESS) partnering students with companies to gain valuable work experience over the summer as well as financial and mentor support. The School has recently been merged with two others to form Engineering and the Environment.

About SUCCESSSUCCESS provides a number of industrial scholarships to students studying Civil or Environmental Engineering at undergraduate level at the University of Southampton. The scholarships includes summer work experience placements which could lead to long term employment upon graduation as well as an annual bursary.

All first and second year engineering students are eligible to apply. Once awarded, the scholarships is normally effective until the student graduates.

How it worksAt the beginning of the academic year, all first and second year students are invited to submit an application. The applications are initially screened by the University and circulated to our partner companies for selection. The short-listed candidates will be invited to the Interview Day at the University. Candidates are advised of the outcome of their application shortly after the Interview Day.

This leaflet outlines SUCCESS and its benefits both to our students and to our sponsors. If you have any questions or are interested in joining the scheme as a sponsor please contact Dr Simon Clubley CEng MICE, SUCCESS Co-ordinator and Employability Officer

email: S.K.Clubley@soton.ac.uk or telephone: 023 8059 2884.

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Putting theory into practice in the lab

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Benefits of the scheme to our students:The scheme partners students with a sponsoring company early in their career and provides valuable paid summer placements that allow them to put their theory to the test and gain practical experience relevant to their studies as well as the opportunity of long term employment upon graduation. Senior engineers from sponsoring companies also act as mentors providing an additional level of support.

The scheme includes:– Summer work placements with the sponsor

– Additional support from an Industry mentor

– Valuable work experience to enhance CV

– Potential employment with the sponsor upon graduation

– £1650 annual bursary from the industry sponsor

“The chance to gain relevant summer work experience with a respectable company and with high likelihood of employment at the end attracted me to apply to the SUCCESS scheme. Working on site illustrated how the drawings and engineering calculations are used to solve every day problems on site.”

Chris Bates MEng Civil Engineering student sponsored by Geoffrey Osborne Limited

“We’ve been involved with Engineering at the University of Southampton for many years and signed up for the SUCCESS scholarship plan when it started in 2003.

Tony Gee has taken on at least one MEng student through the scheme each year, we employ them on work placements and given them a job when they graduate. Most of them still work for us and several have been promoted rapidly to senior positions within the company.

We feel the standard of students that Southampton recruits is very high, they need to be academically clever to win a place on the MEng course in the first place. Then,

during their studies, they get a good grounding in the essential basics of engineering. During their summers at Tony Gee, we give them real engineering work with a fair amount of responsibility so they can put the theory into practice.

When they graduate, they can hit the ground running at Tony Gee, we already know them well and we’re always impressed at what they can do.”

Graham Nicholson Executive Managing Director at Tony Gee, Consulting Civil, Structural and Geotechnical Engineers.

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Benefit of the scheme for companies:

Our sponsoring companies range from multinational companies through to SME’s including: Balfour Beatty, WSP, John Sisk & Son, Scott White and Hookins, Laing O’Rourke, Tony Gee and Partners, Costain and Vinci.

The benefits of the scheme for our sponsoring partners are:– Selecting high quality students as future employees

– Students gain professional industry experience over the period of their study so they already have the knowledge and skills to start work when they graduate

– Students have applied knowledge in an industrial context

– Student skills are built up over the summer placements, not only in respect of technical skills, but also company policies, culture, behaviour, team fit

– Provide fresh and innovative thinking towards company projects

– Attract quality students with the potential to become skilled, loyal graduates and a future asset to the company

– Linkages with University experts

“Within different Balfour Beatty operating companies we have provided work experience to many undergraduates. As a result, University of Southampton graduates are well rounded, both in the exacting technical requirements and the ‘softer’ behavioural and team-working skills required by the industry today.

The primary result consequently is that the graduates are extremely employable by the wider industry.

I have no hesitation in recommending the University of Southampton.”

Mark Sewell Technical Director Balfour Beatty

Since 2003, fifteen companies have participated in the scheme sponsoring over 165 students.

If you are interested in joining the scheme, please contact Dr Simon Clubley, email: email: S.K.Clubley@soton.ac.uk or telephone: 023 8059 2884.

“Often students ask what is distinctive about this course. The answer is simple. MA Design European Pathways give students the opportunity to master in creative solutions as well as get equipped with the essential knowledge and skills to work in strategic positions within a business. Of course, the city of Barcelona only adds positively to the experience.’’Lina SouraPathways Leader for MA Design, European Pathways

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Testing samples in the lab

www.southampton.ac.uk/engineering S.K.Clubley@soton.ac.uk + 44 (0) 23 8059 2884