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All our courses include a paid industrial placement year. Our dedicated placements team works with students to ensure they obtain suitable and interesting jobs. Placements can be with well known international organisations or smaller more specialist companies. Our students have recently enjoyed placements with companies including; Holset, Air Bus Industries, Red Bull Formula One, Dalara Racing, TVR, Prodrive, Syngenta, General Motors, Weir Pumps, Mitsubishi, Robert Bosch and Bentley.
Umberto is currently studying towards an Automotive Engineering degree at the University of Huddersfield. As part of his degree he is undertaking a work placement at Ferrari in Italy.
Umberto talks about his experience at Ferrari to date: "This is petrol head paradise. In a nutshell, my job consists of supervising and analysing engines (8 or 10 cylinder) in the test lab. These engines undergo a series of tests which span from max power tuning to eight day endurance testing, using engines which are, of course, top secret. Ferraris are a frequent sight here. They say you get used to this after time, but I have no idea how anyone can manage that. Anyway, no matter how proud I am of my placement or the company that I work for, I can't give any details - only that the future is bright!!"
Raghunath originates from India, he studied a Mechanical Engineering degree in his home country and achieved a 1st, alongside studying a design course. After graduating he decided to come to the UK, he chose to study MSc Computer Integrated Manufacturing & Management at the University of Huddersfield. He chose Huddersfield because it was one of the very few places that offered an industrial placement.
Raghu undertook a short work placement at a Leeds based company Sulzer Pumps and impressed the employers by developing a research project 'Predictive Tool for Estimating Spares Profitability' whilst completing his placement.
When he graduated in 2004, Raghu returned to Sulzer Pumps as an Engineering Systems Analyst. He was able to do this through the SEGS (science and engineering graduates scheme). SEGS allows non EEA nationals who have graduated in certain physical sciences, maths or engineering to work in the UK a year after their graduation. He has now moved on from SEGS and has obtained a valid work permit.
Elliot chose Huddersfield University for the practical environment, modern equipment and the enthusiasm staff showed for engineering. He graduated in 1993 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Design, having spent his placement year working for Land Rover in Warwickshire.
He returned to Land Rover for his first job after graduating and remained there when the company was taken over by BMW, gaining experience in vehicle concept and design.
Later, Elliot set up his own consultancy business and after a successful project was employed as a Group Leader for vehicle dynamics at Red Bull Racing! He is now managing a team designing, specifying and developing the vehicle dynamic specifications for this year's and next year's Red Bull Formula 1 racing car.
Palvinder left school at 16 and took a Modern Apprenticeship with an engineering firm in Leeds. He completed his BTEC and HNC in Mechanical Engineering on a part time basis whilst working, then decided to study full time for a BEng Computer Aided Engineering, gaining direct entry into the second year due to his having already achieved the HNC qualification.
Palvinder graduated in 2001 and started work as a Junior Stress Engineer with Messier-Dowty who design and manufacture landing gear systems for Boeing, British Aerospace and Airbus. His starting salary was £21,000 but he has since been promoted and, at 25, is now working on a Boeing 787 project based in the USA earning a salary in excess of £30,000 per annum.
He loves working in the aerospace industry and has been motivated to start taking flying lessons himself, something he would never have anticipated before attending University!
Andrew is a current student in his placement year, he has completed the Foundation Engineering course and is now studying BEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering.
Having completed the first part of his placement with Prodrive working in the Rally Design office supporting the World Rally Team, Andrew is now working for ADR Motorsport developing new products and finding sponsorship for a second rally car.
He believes he is gaining valuable experience and states: "If you want to work in this industry you need lots of practice as well as theoretical knowledge. Knowledge without the experience won't get you a job. You have to be prepared to work your way up through the teams, learning the business as you go."
He adds: "Working on a placement is different to the university lifestyle. You have to get up in the morning and get into work on time no matter what, and you won't get what you want if you don't put the effort in."
