I got to know about Dorset Highways (DH) through the University of Portsmouth Careers forum where DH had posted one of its flyers offering student placement opportunities. My interest in DH was primarily in the consultancy aspect of Highway Maintenance and Bridge Structures. I became well informed upon further research through the website by looking through the organisations profile, line of activities, on-going and future projects.
I was an international student from Nigeria where I completed a National Diploma in Civil Engineering and proceeded to further my studies through a direct entry to the University of Portsmouth. I completed two years as an undergraduate, studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering before undertaking a year placement. I returned to University to complete my degree and then secured a full-time job with Dorset Highways in the noise and specialism’s team designing traffic signal projects.
I worked in the highway maintenance team as a Trainee Engineer and worked on footway maintenance schemes around the county where I acquired some knowledge and experience in the design processes. Due to the depth of engineering expertise I was surrounded by at DH this has enhanced my knowledge in pavement maintenance and design, application of statutory procedures, quality assurance, and CDM regulations, the use of design software and relevant application of highway design standards and codes of practice. The schemes varied from resurfacing, to base course reinstatement, to pavement design, re-kerbing, to flag slabs and stones reinstatement. I have also been exposed to eco-friendly recycling construction methods in pavement re-instatements on-site.
The strict compliance to the industry’s standard and regulations and the robust procedures in place for quality assurance have provided me with a great appreciation of how vital every stage of the engineering process is to the effective outcome of a project. The team work, hands-on training and assistance DH has provided is of very high standard and this has motivated me to see highway engineering from a new and clearer perspective. I was fortunate to join the ICE graduate training at DH and my aim is to become a chartered engineer.