Career Experiences of Maxim Taylor -- Trainee Electrical Engineer

I have recently submitted my application for student membership and so I have began receiving the CIBSE E-Newsletter.

In the last CIBSE newsletter, "What do you love about your job" really jumped out at me, so as a young person in engineering I thought I would write to tell you what I do, and in my experience how young people see engineering.

At school I did an NVQ in engineering and found that electrical work really appealed to me, and so I decided to apply at the college I had been working at for installation apprenticeships. In my mind electrical work stopped at installation, and I had no idea of the other people in the industry.

But I went for an interview with Hampshire County Council, unaware that it was for a position as an apprentice electrical design engineer. I suddenly realised how much better this would suit me academically. As I was reasonably clever at school teachers had discouraged me from going the apprenticeship route as they believed apprenticeship were for the less bright, and in there eyes college was the way forward.

I am now 19 and have been working for Hampshire County Council for two and a half years, I enjoy my job immensely because of the varied work I get involved in and the constant challenges.

I work on my own smaller projects (classroom extensions, tech room refurbishments etc) and also assist my senior colleagues on larger scale projects (new secondary schools, offices etc).
It is surprising that I could find a job I enjoy so much by chance, as before coming along to the assessment here I was entirely unaware that there were even people around doing this.
As well as being paid to train whilst I do a job I enjoy, I also have all of my college training paid for which puts me in an excellent position for the future.

As an employer Hampshire County Council like to promote both the engineering and construction industry, and so I have been invited along to a number of events at schools to talk to children about what I do in engineering. It seems school children are never aware of designers and what they do, believing an electrician just comes in does the work and leaves, knowing cable sizes, luminaires to use etc.

In general I've found a number of children to be very interested in a career in electrical or mechanical design. The biggest thing keeping people away from this industry is the school mindset as I have said earlier, which is aggravating as I believe my sector of this industry to be both challenging and fulfilling.

CIBSE Ken Dale Travel Bursary Open To All Members

CIBSE BURSARY PROFILE OF THE MONTH

Purpose of the Ken Dale Travel Bursary

The Ken Dale Travel Bursary has been established by CIBSE to commemorate Ken Dale's contribution to the Institution and our industry. The bursary will allow CIBSE members to travel and research areas connected with the applicant's field of work and which will benefit CIBSE, their employer, their clients and the professions within the building services engineering industry more widely.

Candidate Criteria

• Open to CIBSE members in developmental stage of their career
• At least two years' professional experience

Conditions of Award

• The successful candidate will spend up to 4 weeks traveling for research connected with the applicant's field of work and which will benefit CIBSE, their employer, their clients and the professions within the building services engineering industry more widely
• The Award amount depends on the scope of the project to be undertaken, its length (3-4 weeks), and the country or countries proposed for the particular study
• A written report based on the research and travel experience will be produced for the Board within four months of commencing study leave
• A presentation will be made to the CIBSE council on the research and findings
• A commemorative presentation made at the President's Dinner in October by the successful applicant

2008 Timetable for Applications

• The closing date this year for applicants is 17th March 2008
• Applications will be acknowledged after 31st March 2008
• Interviews will be held in April 2008 (applicants will be notified of specific dates)
• A commemorative presentation made at the President's Dinner in October 2008

Download the 2007-2008 Ken Dale Travel Bursary Application Form at www.cibse.org/bursaries

If you have any questions, please contact Fiona Torrance on 0208 7723624 or email ftorrance@cibse.org.

Ken Dale Biography

Kenneth William Dale was born in Birmingham in 1925. He attended the Moseley Grammar School before serving the RAF from 1942 to 1946. Ken joined the National College of Heating, Ventilating, Fan Engineering and Refrigeration as one of their first students. After working in various contracting and consulting engineering firms, Ken started his own practice, K W Dale and Partners, in 1954. Later Ken became Senior Partner, then Chairman and Managing Director, of Dale and Goldfinger Ltd.

Ken designed the engineering for notable UK and overseas buildings - such as Chatsworth House, Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, the Royal Opera House, Westminster Hospital, Trellick Tower in West London, the Mecca and Riyadh Hotels and Conference Centres, the British Embassy in Riyadh, and the British and Indian Antarctic Survey Bases. He was also on the EEC team seeking solutions to the heating problems of Romanian orphanages.

In 1974, Ken served as President of the Institution of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (IHVE) when negotiating for a grant of a Royal Charter as part of the formation of the Chartered Institution of Building Services (CIBS). CIBS was formed in 1976 with Ken as Chairman of the Charter Panel. Working with the Secretary and Past-Presidents, Ken contributed to the Institution gaining recognition as the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) where corporate members could submit registration to the Engineering Council as Chartered Engineers.

Ken was Honorary Fellow of CIBSE, a Life Fellow of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, and President of the Federation of European Heating and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) in 1993. He also served on the Building Regulations Advisory Committee for nine years, the Building Services Advisory Panel as Chairman, and as a tax commissioner. In 1982, Ken received appointment as officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) after serving as a Colonel in T&VR and Aide de Camp to the Queen from 1977-1979. He became Commander of the Royal Engineer Specialist Pool Officers T&VR and Specialist Teams, and Colonel in the Engineer and Transport Staff Corps.

Ken contributed to teaching fellow engineers with academic appointments as Lecturer for Regent Street and South Bank Polytechnics, and as External Examiner for UMIST MSc Building Services Technology. Ken also published numerous technical papers.

Ken Dale Model for Development within Building Services Engineering

• Working closely with clients and industry colleagues across disciplines
• Striving for engineering services to be in harmony with buildings - functional, efficient, easily operated and maintained
• Designing engineering with rigorous research into the requirements of each building and its occupants
• Achieving intuitive and elegant engineering solutions
• Avoiding inappropriate solutions - whether fashionable or traditional
• Sustaining highest professional standards
• Being a ‘hands-on' member of the Institution
• Persisting to further goals
• Participating internationally in building services engineering
• Making time for hobbies, community, and public service

CIBSE Student Survey 2008 Prize Winner – Jonathan Philip Tallon, Consultant Electrical Services Engineer

Jonathan Philip Tallon, Consultant Electrical Services Engineer

Biography

College Attended: Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street
Course: Electrical Services Engineering
Qualification: Degree in Electrical Services Engineering
Qualified: 2005
Currently Studying: BSc Electrical Services & Energy Management at Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin St. (Part time) and also training to become a BER (Building Energy Rating) Assessor at Dublin Institute of Technology, Aungier St., studying under Dr. Ken Beattie

After Qualifying in the summer of 2005 I took the summer off to relax and take a brake from studying (best thing I ever did), I then rang some college friends to see where each were working and also to ask did they know of any nice consultancies recruiting at the moment that I could send in my CV, I got great feedback and sent my CV around, a few days later I got a response from one of the consultancies and went for my first interview and was offered the job that evening.

It was a great consultancy called HOH Partnership in Clontarf, Dublin 3, they looked after my every needs and I got great experience during my time there. I left after nearly two years to further my career and gain further experience and I am now working at BDP (Building Design Partnership), Blackhall Place, Dublin 7, this is a International multi-discipline Architecture, Design and Engineering Practice which is dedicated to sustainable developments and one in which I hope to benefit immensely from.

Jonathan Tallon entered our CIBSE Student Survey 2008 and was one of the first ten entrants to submit her survey winning the CIBSE Concise Handbook worth £70 and CIBSE Guidance Note GN1 worth £17.

Congratulations Jonathan and thank you for contributing to improving services for all student members through your feedback!

CIBSE Student Survey 2008 Prize Winner -- Alan Daly, BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering 2009

Alan Daly, BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering 2009
Biography

After finishing my Leaving Certificate and graduating from Christian Brothers College (CBC) Cork in 2003, I attended Cork Institute of Technology and studied Building Services Engineering, obtaining my Certificate in 2005 and my BA (Ordinary Level) in 2006. I was accepted to Northumbria University in Newcastle to study BA (Honors) Building Services Engineering. I deferred the course for a year and traveled the globe between June 2006 and August 2007. I traveled to the Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the US. I began my studies in September 2007, and I am on course to graduate with my honors degree in May 2009. I would like to work abroad, particularly in Southern California, as the warm climate would be a welcomed change!

Alan Daly entered our CIBSE Student Survey 2008 and was one of the first ten entrants to submit her survey winning the CIBSE Concise Handbook worth £70 and CIBSE Guidance Note GN1 worth £17.

Congratulations Alan and thank you for contributing to improving services for all student members through your feedback!

CIBSE Student Survey 2008 Prize Winner -- Cara Geach, Mechanical Design Engineer

Cara Geach, Mechanical Design Engineer

Biography

'With no previous engineering experience or qualifications Cara started working as a trainee Building Services Technician for a large employer in Cambridge nearly five years ago. In this time she has completed an HND in Building Services Engineeering on a part time basis and is now in the final year of BEng (Hons) in the same subject. She has also progressed within her employment by taking up the post of Mechanical Design Engineer.'

Cara Geach entered our CIBSE Student Survey 2008 and was one of the first ten entrants to submit her survey winning the CIBSE Concise Handbook worth £70 and CIBSE Guidance Note GN1 worth £17.

Congratulations Cara and thank you for contributing to improving services for all student members through your feedback!

CIBSE Patrons Sponsor Arkwright High Flyer

At an Awards Ceremony held at the IET on 26th October, CIBSE Patrons Chairman Nick Mead FCIBSE met the newest Arkwright Scholar to be Sponsored by the Patrons, Hugh Chapman. Hugh, who lives in Milton, Cambridge attends Framingham College.

Currently he is studying AS levels in Maths, Physics, Geography and Design Technology and plans to study one of the built environment engineering disciplines at university. CIBSE President John Armstrong also attended the awards ceremony which gave Scholars and their parents a chance to meet their Sponsors.

Hugh is the third Arkwright Scholar to have benefited from the generous support of CIBSE Patrons. From the point of view of the Institution, it is good to have the opportunity to raise the profile of building services engineering with young high flyers whilst they are still at school .

CIBSE Students - Future Engineers!

CIBSE Students – Future Engineers!

CIBSE currently have 2035 student members internationally. We aim to offer our students on building services courses a basket of benefits which include a free data book, discounts on publications, a free monthly newsletter and Building Services Journal, very low fees to join CIBSE, company bursaries and more importantly to support students through their career progression.

We strongly advise students to join the Young Engineers Network (YEN) and enjoy the interaction both socially and professionally. In future, we are looking at offering students a broader spectrum of benefits through the following initiatives:

* Opportunities to submit research
* Reduced rates for student publication package
* Introduction of student blogs and forums
* Improved student network on web
* Selection of student champions and bursary recipients
* Career Section with topical information and case studies

CIBSE have upcoming events such as the National Conference Niche to Norm 29-30 April 2008 and of particular interest to students would be:

* Practical session to put theories into practice
* Membership Workshop
* Employers that will be there to talk to students
* Special price of £10 per day for students to attend
* Ongoing regional student events
* CIBSE Bursaries are available and Northumbria University are hosting an event
* Young Engineers Network (YEN) Breakfast and Software Demo Exhibition with software available