Work experience at OAL
At OAL, we believe it’s vital to inspire the next generation to consider a career in engineering. After all, Engineering UK has predicted that there will be an annual shortfall of 59,000 engineering graduates and technicians to fill core engineering roles in the UK over the next ten years, so we all need to do everything we can to encourage young people to explore their options. That’s why we often have work experience students spend a week with us so they can get to know what real jobs in the engineering world are like, from mechanical and electrical to design and software!
In March 2019, we welcomed GSCE student Owen Gore, who is interested in pursuing a career in engineering. He spent his time across several departments, including our test centre at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), to get a feel for what the world of work is like. Here, he takes us through his experience and explains why he would recommend other students take advantage of a work experience placement with us!
“When arriving on my first day I was shown around all of the departments and introduced to the people who worked there. I felt very welcomed and ready to get started. Over the course of the week, I saw many of the processes that go into the projects that OAL deliver, from the early phases of design and concepts right through to the end result in the demonstration systems showcasing OAL’s robotics and Steam Infusion technologies working in a factory environment.
“I spent time with the technical design department where live projects really start to take shape and become the blueprint needed for the engineers who have to install OAL’s systems. I was able to use the software that OAL’s design engineers use and I was amazed at how you can picture the whole project just through an image on a screen.
“Mid-week, I was taken to the NCFM in Holbeach where I saw the Steam Infusion system and the APRIL Robotic Chef in action! It gave me a huge insight into what the company wanted to achieve and how they were changing the industry for the better.
“During my time in support, sales and marketing I realised how much work went on alongside the design and manufacturing of the product, whether that be the efforts selling the product to a large company or supporting the factories the company supplies to use the systems effectively.
“I would recommend other students consider OAL for their work experience placement. The team there is really eager to help you understand what a career in engineering looks like and answer any questions you might have. If you’re unsure what you want to do after school, it’s a great place to start to explore the working world.”