Meeting with clients, mentoring students and immersed tube tunnels – update from the UK Graduate of the Year
Tim Belcher has had a busy six months as UK Graduate of the Year. Here’s a rundown of some of the things he’s been up to.
Getting closer to clients
The London Structures team is very busy and amongst other assignments, Tim has been working on the detailed design for North London Lines and has recently been enjoying delegated project management responsibilities on some smaller projects. A couple of weeks ago he took time to meet up for coffee with a government client and reported that “it was a great way to understand where they are coming from and what their motivations are. From this single meeting I was able to tailor the scope of work to better serve the needs of the client, and be in a better position to discuss our recommendations.”
London Graduate rep
Tim not only participates in the UK Graduate Board Graduate as Graduate of the Year, but has also become the board’s graduate representative in London. Tim is keen to support local graduates as much as possible and as part of this, he has arranged for Chris Rickards from the ICE to come and spend a day in the London office on 23 November. Chris will run a lunchtime seminar for the graduates and will be around for the rest of the day to meet with any other ICE graduates.
Tim is also exploring ways in which support can be given to our graduates working at remote client locations so that they benefit from our network.
Mentoring the engineers of tomorrow
Building on his aim of promoting engineering as a career, Tim is once again mentoring a group of four students from Watford Girls’ Grammar through the Royal Academy of Engineers Engineering in Education Scheme. The team is charged with designing a temporary bridge for Auckland and concept designs are due by Christmas. Tim comments: “It’s already been an amazing couple of weeks working with the students and it’s great to see them build their confidence and operate effectively as a team through this project.”
Tim’s mentoring skills are also developing through his work with Mair Beesley, a former student from Watford Girls Grammar, who has joined the London Structures team for her gap year and is supporting them on their wide variety of projects. Although not officially her line manager, Tim is taking a personal responsibility for her work and her broader experience during her year in Hyder.
Supporting Greenwich school children through STEMNET
Still on the mentoring theme, Tim is organising a team of graduates to go into schools in Greenwich in conjunction with STEMNET (Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network) to help raise young people’s enthusiasm for and engagement in these critical subjects. Hyder is on Greenwich’s framework for highways and transportation consultancy services and Tim’s efforts reflect our commitment to helping communities around us.
Next stop Hong Kong
Tim has chosen to spend his prize of a two week secondment at our Hong Kong office in November. While he is there he hopes to get involved with the immersed tube tunnel team, visit the site of one of the new MTR underground stations and also meet with local graduates to find out more about their work.