Aston Stroud

Name: Aston Stroud
Position: Placement engineer and site engineer
Employer: Jackson Civil Engineering
Qualifications: BSc civil and coastal engineering, University of Plymouth

I wanted to get into civil engineering without going to university but couldn’t find any experience, so I worked as a steel fabricator before deciding to do a degree. When I started my course, I was determined not to do a placement as I wanted to get my qualification as soon as possible. However, I was advised that a placement is invaluable, and now I’ve done one I wholeheartedly agree.

A variety of projects

My university arranges a variety of placements, but I wanted something different so I found my own. I’ve worked on three projects so far, and have found that training as a commercial diver as part of my degree has come in handy! My first role was as a placement engineer working on a dam in Somerset, which taught me the ropes. I then became the site engineer for a conservation project near Bristol. We created ponds for birds living on the wetlands, and constructed a drainage system to keep the ponds full and the land free of flooding. I’m now the site engineer for a largescale project building another dam.

Overseeing engineering work on site

I love my job because it’s like being five years old again and playing with giant toys. The highlight was being appointed site engineer –  placement students usually work in training-orientated positions, but I oversee all the engineering work on site. I enjoy being outdoors in different locations; in civils you spend limited time on each job before working somewhere completely different.