Member Article

Tom and Ewan Earn While They Learn at Desco

Tom Mullen and Ewan Simpson are the latest PlanBEE students to join engineering consultancy Desco through the award-winning education programme, which allows aspiring professionals to earn whilst learning, through day-release studies and work placements, at a host of leading North East-based construction companies.

The PlanBEE higher apprenticeship scheme, which has won accolades at the AJ100 Awards and Building Awards for its innovative, tailored approach to learning, provides students with a regular salary, a professional qualification and a guaranteed job opportunity on graduation. The bespoke programme’s on and off-the-job training combines lessons at Gateshead College, one day each week, with a series of work placements, rotating through companies like Desco, Ryder Architecture, Arup, BIM Academy, Cundall, FaulknerBrowns, Robertson, Sir Robert McAlpine, Tolent and Xsite Architecture.

Tom and Ewan have both already completed four other placements, which have given them a grounding in subjects including architecture, building control and construction. At Desco, the pair will learn to put mechanical and electrical (M&E) building services engineering theory into practice, developing designs and preparing drawings for essential building systems such as lighting, heating, ventilation, water supply, lifts, security, data and telecoms. They’ll also get the opportunity to learn about building physics and energy management and use building information modelling (BIM) software.

Whilst Ewan has previously completed a placement with an M&E contracting firm, where he gained experience of the installation process, this will be Tom’s first taste of M&E services engineering. Tom explains, “in my previous architectural and construction placements, I have seen how M&E systems and building physics influence a building’s design. I’m looking forward to working with the team at Desco where I’ll be able to learn in more detail about M&E services design and the important function it has in the overall construction process.”

Also eager to get started in his latest placement at Desco, Ewan adds, “During my time on the PlanBEE programme so far, I have developed an interest in M&E building services. I am lucky to have already had the opportunity to gain some experience in this aspect of the construction process, whilst with Castle Building Services, so I’m really looking forward to developing my understanding of the subject further and to putting into practice what I have learnt so far.” Ewan added, “I know it will be a great experience for me, especially as all of the students on the course who have already completed a placement with Desco, talk very highly of the company.”

Desco Director, Paul Baker, extended a warm welcome to both Tom and Ewan. Explaining the benefits of the programme, Paul said, “PlanBEE is a breath of fresh air for our industry. It’s allowing promising youngsters the chance to learn in a real-life engineering and construction environment. It helps equip them with a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to succeed in the wide variety of career opportunities that exist in the construction industry. From an employer’s perspective, this is giving us the perfect chance to help shape and support the students’ learning and development, meaning as they graduate from their course, they are already ideal candidates for employment with a valuable mix of experience and knowledge under their belts.”

Tom and Ewan will each spend four months at Desco’s head office at Doxford Business Park in Sunderland, which has already hosted five other students through the programme to date.

Paul concludes “We wish Tom and Ewan all the very best in their placements. We hope they’ll both enjoy the time they spend as part of the Desco team and find it beneficial in whichever construction career path they choose.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Desco (Design and Consultancy) Ltd. .