Work Experience

Over the past year we have had students join us from Simon Balle and Richard Hale Schools for our work experience programme. We aim to provide Year 11 to 13 students who join us for the week a real insight into the geotechnical industry. Our friendly experienced staff support the week with workshops and seminars along with site visits where the students experience taking soil samples and the process of logging them at the laboratory.

This is what Cameron had to say about his work experience at GEA

Portsmouth Bursary Scheme

Last summer we welcomed placement students Cerys Long and John Fuggle, both undergraduates studying Engineering Geology at Portsmouth. Cerys is with us for her sandwich year and John completed his eight-week placement and will join us again for a 44-week placement at the end of his second year, as part of our long and successful association with the Portsmouth bursary scheme.

Here's what John had to say about his time with us.

‘My internship has made me significantly more confident in my fieldwork and site investigation skills as an aspiring geotechnical engineer. GEA, a relatively small company specializing in geotechnical and environmental consultancy, helped me utilise my time well. Working within a small company, I was able to see all aspects of the job and understand how the company operated. I participated in numerous site visits with experienced engineers, during which I produced borehole and trial pit logs, and learned how to record observations made on site. I also took part in gas and groundwater monitoring of standpipes at multiple sites across London. Not only did I play a part in site work, but I also used the data collected to write detailed reports. The whole GEA team were extremely inviting and friendly, offering help and advice even without me asking. The overall experience has made me more comfortable to begin a full-time job in the future and given me invaluable experience to use in my further studies’.

‘Cerys has also been involved with attending careers fairs at the Bishop Stortford High School and is currently running a project for students at a West London school as part of the STEM Innovation. She also represented GEA at the Enviroscience Fair at University of Portsmouth in early December.

On-the-job experience and training

Having adequate training and support is often the deciding factor for engineers when choosing their next employer.

We encourage early career events through memberships with associations like The Geological Society, arrange visits to our laboratories to learn about the different soil testing methods and their applications, organise CPD and seminars and ensure health and safety training is provided for working safely across our sites.

Spotlight - Tanya Ferguson

Assistant geotechnical engineer, Tanya Ferguson, speaks about her experience at GEA since joining us in February last year.

‘Having graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in Geology last summer, I am pleased to have begun my career in geotechnical engineering at GEA. The company has a good approach to training in that they help you complete tasks, but I have also been afforded a level of independence and responsibility that I had not previously anticipated. I have learnt a lot of new skills in a short space of time, including skills in site investigation and desk studies that were not covered as part of my degree. I was not aware of some of the hazards involved within the construction industry, however, first aid, health and safety and asbestos training courses provided by the company have been beneficial’

Some of Tanya's recent Site Investigations have included The King’s Crescent Estate where it is proposed to construct six new six-storey to eleven-storey apartment buildings, and a site at William Mews where it is proposed to remodel the existing building, including the construction of an additional storey on top of the building and a single level basement beneath part of the building.