From Classroom to Construction

As National Careers Week continues, we’re sharing placement and early-career experiences from across AG Wilson to highlight how academic learning translates into real-world practice.

Brogan’s placement year provides an insight into what it’s really like to move from university study into live civil engineering projects, and the skills students develop along the way.

Background & Role

I’m currently studying Civil Engineering at Ulster University Belfast and undertaking a placement year with AG Wilson. My role is varied, allowing me to gain experience across general civil engineering activities as well as more specialised drainage engineering projects. This hands-on exposure has been invaluable in helping me bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application.

Placement Experience

During the first few months of my placement, I worked on a storm separation project, where I gained practical experience installing concrete and PVC pipework. Being involved on site gave me an insight into the level of planning, coordination and communication required to deliver work safely and in line with design requirements.

More recently, my focus has shifted to investigating sewage systems and tracing flows within existing networks. This work is a critical early stage of storm separation projects, helping to identify current infrastructure and inform effective design solutions. The role involves detailed inspections, data collection and close collaboration with site teams, all of which contribute to successful project delivery.

Every day on site presents new challenges, which has made the experience both demanding and rewarding.

Learning & Development

One of the biggest differences between studying civil engineering and working on site has been the shift from theory to practice. While university provides a strong technical foundation, working in a live environment highlights the need to adapt designs and problem-solve in response to real-world conditions, time pressures and site constraints.

The placement has strengthened my practical drainage skills and improved my confidence in tackling unexpected issues on site. Working closely with contractors and colleagues has also helped me develop strong communication and teamwork skills, which are essential in delivering projects successfully.

Reflection & Advice

This placement has reinforced that civil engineering is about far more than calculations and drawings. It is about solving real-world problems, collaborating with a wide range of people and continually learning from each project.

For students considering a career in civil engineering, I would strongly recommend gaining hands-on experience as early as possible, whether through placements, internships or site visits. The practical insight gained is invaluable and helps bring academic learning to life.