2011-12’s recruitment for the School of Civil Engineering’s RESPECT sponsorship/placement scheme started with a lot of noise and bustle in the Shell Lounge on 23rd November. The majority of the School’s first and second year undergraduates came to meet a dozen big-name civil engineering companies, find out about the opportunities open to them for summer work placements and subsequent sponsorship through their studies.

Regular recruiters, Laing O’Rourke, Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering, Interserve Construction, Geoffrey Osborne Ltd, Mouchel, Bam Nuttall, Northmidland Construction and Grontmij were joined by Arup, Colas Rail, Keller Ground Engineering and Balfour Beatty Utilities Services. All are looking for talented young engineers to continue the success of their businesses – of which Birmingham has plenty.

The next stage for the students is to complete an application form, brush off their CVs and send them in to the School’s Industrial Liaison Manager, Jenny Illingsworth. From there, the companies will decide which of their applicants to see on Interview Day in February 2012.

To take part in RESPECT and receive applications, it doesn’t matter if your company wasn’t there for Meet the Companies; you can still recruit students. Please contact Jenny Illingsworth on j.s.illingsworth@bham.ac.uk if you’d like to find out more and recruit enthusiastic, able students.