CIBSE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR | AECOM UPWARDLY MOBILE Aecoms lauded graduate programme aims to develop well-rounded engineers with excellent technical and social skills. Phil Lattimore looks at how it is encouraging young engineers to develop strong community ties while progressing their careers AECOM INITIATIVES FOR YOUNG ENGINEERS Hosting YEN and energy performance events, sponsoring South Wales Active Buildings at Swansea University, and involvement in societies such as SoPHE. The Imagineers programme ambassadors visit local schools to inspire young children, especially girls. Being an industry partner at a Stem conference hosted by the Army at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, attended by 900 girls aged between 11 and 15 years. Being an active partner of Year of the Engineer hosting open days to promote engineering at its London headquarters for 60+ primary schoolchildren. A schools outreach programme that offers a variety of placements, from one-day work shadowing for 14-year-olds to summer placement positions for those 18 or older. Aecom offers up to 250 work experience opportunities across the UK annually. mCircles a UK-wide mentoring programme for women across the business, involving more than 500 women to date. Stem champions in Aecoms Leeds and York offices receiving the ICE Yorkshire and Humber Company of the Year 2019 for their efforts promoting Stem careers. A ecom being crowned overall Employer of the Year at the 2019 CIBSE Young Engineers Awards represented a major step up for the multidisciplinary engineer. In 2018, it won the large company category, but just missed out on the overall title. A year later, it beat allcomers and was praised for its progressive strategy for recruiting, nurturing and empowering young people. As well as recognising and showcasing exceptional engineering talent in the industry, the awards shine a spotlight on those employers who... have provided a suitable environment for our young engineers to flourish, says CIBSE President Lynne Jack. In the other categories, Fairheat claimed the prize in the small company section and Troup Bywaters + Anders secured the medium company title. So what is it about Aecoms approach to the training and development of young engineers that continues to win over the CIBSE judges? Commitment Aecoms intake of graduates, apprentices and placements has risen consistently over the past five years. In 2018, 359 graduates joined its UK and Ireland graduate programme 43% of whom were female. The firms recruitment and training is aimed at ensuring the continuing development and success of its business, and addresses some of the key issues facing organisations in the building services sector. Its commitment to developing junior staff is evident in its Advance early careers development programme for graduates and apprentices, work experience placements for young trainee engineers, and its Stem ambassador school engagement initiatives. Advance is a combined programme for our apprentices and graduates, to help develop their Aecom career, says Tracy DSouza, lead for Aecoms MEP programme. One of the many ways this is done is through residential training sessions, which allow joiners to network with people across the business and take part in interactive activities that will support them, and give them the knowledge and tools they need to flourish in their role. Since Aecom secured the large category Graduates are always encouraged to work on site as this gives them hands-on experience Employer of the Year in 2018, it has continued to develop its training programme. In March 2019, for example, it appointed a dedicated MEP training and development administrator. Their job is to source mentors for apprentice and graduate trainees, support junior engineers through placements, and organise technical and mentor training, to ensure a consistent level of professional development across the business. In addition to its on-the-job training and MEP and Advance training programmes, Aecoms young engineers benefit from accredited CPDs, lunch and learn sessions, and focused mechanical and electrical workshops. Graduates are always encouraged to work on site, too, says DSouza, as this gives them real-life, hands-on experience, as well as the chance to learn from their peers. Senior directors such as Mike Burton and Peter Sutcliffe lead mentoring programmes, including coaching, careers guidance, shadowing and leadership advice. Mentors 30 February 2020 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Feb20 pp30-31 Aecom Employer of the year.indd 30 24/01/2020 15:00