I am a Graduate Civil Engineer on the bp OneEngineering Development Programme. I joined the company in September 2022 straight out of university. I currently work on Net Zero Teesside; an innovative first-of-its-kind Carbon Capture project in the North-East of England. It is a one of many trailblazing projects within bp and the wider industry, and the team of world-class engineers are navigating many unique engineering challenges which haven’t been faced before.
Alongside my role supporting Net Zero Teesside, I have been able to travel to Aberdeen, Valencia and to an Asset in the North Sea, gaining a wide variety of competencies and experiences. The beauty of a company like bp is that there is so much going on and they invest hugely in their graduates and staff in general. Here are some of my highlights during my short time at the company so far:
Working on Net Zero Teesside, a project classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. Some of the engineering challenges we have overcome could help shape the future of the energy industry.
I co-ordinated one of bp’s largest technical reviews
Went to the Early Careers Conference in Valencia to network with all other bp Engineering Graduates
Spent 3 weeks offshore on a Diving Support Vessel (DSV) at Clair Ridge as bp Technical Representative.
How did your education journey develop?
I left school following the completion of my A-Levels – I studied Maths, Physics and Geography. Throughout my earlier years at school, I did not enjoy humanities, particularly English and History, probably because I wasn’t particularly good at them, despite working harder and putting in effort than other people! I am extremely competitive and compared much of what I did to others, which was never a good idea, particularly as I had a twin brother who normally beat me in exams! This taught me an important lesson: don’t compare yourselves to others – the most important thing is to work hard and be the best you can be.
I went to the University of Leeds, initially studying Aviation Technology with Pilot Studies – I wanted to be a pilot growing up. I’d always been interested in STEM and sustainability. However, after two weeks, I knew it wasn’t the right thing for me. I decided to swap to Civil and Environmental Engineering, as I believed it would align closely with my interest in STEM and sustainability – it is probably one of the hardest decisions I have made in life, however one of the best. Not all things go to plan – don’t be afraid to backtrack and have a re-think.
What advice would you give to somebody looking for their first job?
Don’t doubt yourself – apply to jobs that you think you will enjoy and would be a good fit for. Employers are extremely accommodating, ensuring all applicants experience a fair recruitment process. Be open about your diagnosed disability, whether that’s Dyslexia or something else. I used to be hesitant when telling employers about my dyslexia as I was worried it would mean I’d be at a disadvantage before the recruitment process even began – I couldn’t having been more wrong! Having said that, it is very rare people get the first job they applied for…if you can, ask for honest feedback and don’t lose your confidence and keep applying!
Top Tips?
Be open about your disability, it is nothing to be ashamed of! Employers are extremely accommodating and want you to apply to their jobs – everyone is different, with their own unique qualities.