“My secondment at WSP is enabling me to add skills in detailed technical engineering to the leadership and management capabilities I developed in the army,” said Chris. “When you study engineering, the problems you’re given to solve don’t always have the same complexity as real-world projects. I’ve been given the chance to go back to first principles to understand whether what the client wants to do is feasible.”

“We’re also getting involved in the commercial and sustainability side of engineering,” said Adam. “I’m getting the opportunity to work on a major project within the defence sector, to take responsibility for aspects of the design and get deep into the technicalities of Eurocodes. That’s been fantastic, and it’s also been eye-opening for me to use different project management tools and see how information flows.”

As for Adam and Chris, their time at WSP is part of a process to prepare them for their next role. They will be commanding either a squadron of around 150 people to deliver construction projects, or a specialist design team providing technical design, consultancy and assurance around the world.

“The Professional Engineering Training course is academically tough, but the opportunity and experiences gained on the course are second to none,” said Chris. “And I’m enjoying my time at WSP.” 

Adam agrees: “WSP have been fantastic in supporting my professional development and I am so thankful for their support. It’s a win-win for everyone.”