11 October 2016
Peter Thompson has recently joined our asset management team as a graduate surveyor and is based at our Cockermouth office. We take this opportunity to see how he is getting on in his new role since graduating from Newcastle University this summer.
What did you study and what attracted you to study this?
I studied Surveying and Mapping Science (BSc) at Newcastle University mainly because the course offered both practical and theoretical elements. The practical elements involved a large amount of outdoor work, something which appealed to me.
How did you secure your role at WYG and how long have you been here?
I have been working at WYG since August 2016 and believe meeting WYG employees at a geomatics careers event at Newcastle University helped me secure my role. They too had studied the same course as me at Newcastle, so understood how the course prepares graduates for careers in surveying.
What has been the most challenging moment of your career to date?
While conducting a two-month research project for the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at Newcastle University, the biggest challenge I had to overcome was to deal with the scale of multi-month projects, especially coordinating with supervisors to ensure which research was prioritised to deliver the most scientifically valuable product within the time frame available to a project.
What do you enjoy most about your role at WYG?
The dynamic team within asset management at WYG means that there is a wide variety of projects I am involved in. As a result, the constant new challenges make each project exciting. The team within the Cumbria office has a wealth of experience. They support you to overcome any of these challenges, making the team a great place to develop as a recent graduate.
What projects have been the most enjoyable to date?
Although I've only been at WYG a short amount of time, I have enjoyed the projects I have worked on. One of the smaller scale projects was a topographical survey within a rural village in Cumbria (Lazonby). The fieldwork was conducted in great weather and I got to watch the Tour of Britain cycle race pass through. This project was the first time I was involved in the whole workflow, resulting in a great learning experience.
What advice would you give a graduate entering the market today?
My advice would be to start looking for opportunities early. Being in discussion with WYG relieved pressure for planning post university, allowing me to focus on my studies and enjoying my final year as a student.
WYG representatives, Tim Noble and Richard Brook will be attending the ‘Life During and Beyond Geomatics 2016’ careers event on Thursday 13th October at Newcastle University.
Find out more about joining WYG as a graduate or apprentice, or call us on 0161 874 8753.
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