Paul Isaac

Civil Engineering

Paul's placement was in 2007 with the Asset System Management team, where he was involved in many aspects of flood defence, including carrying out inspections and design calculations for flood defence structures. But one particular incident made him realise the impact his work could have:

"The most interesting thing that happened on my placement was attending a flood I got to see firsthand the damage that can be caused by water, and how a river can be a trickle one day and a torrent the next!"

On a day-to-day basis, Paul was carrying out design calculations and compiling AutoCAD drawings for new flood defence structures, as well as surveying existing flood defences and areas where new ones were to be built. "One challenge I faced was learning how to think practically on engineering issues," he says. "For example, working out how to get machinery into a river to construct an access ramp on my university course, practical site issues were hardly covered."

Paul brought with him skills he'd learned in AutoCAD as well as GPS surveying techniques, but he also took valuable skills back with him to university. "It was invaluable to see how structural designs are developed in the real world the application of engineering solutions brought the theory completely to life."

Paul has only good things to say about his placement: "I found the working environment very relaxed and friendly, and the people I met really seemed to enjoy their work. Everyone was very supportive, and I always knew who to talk to if I had any issues." He liked it so much, in fact, that he chose to come back after he graduated.

"I kept in touch with members of the team I'd been with on my placement, and when I'd completed my degree I came back to the same team, so it was easy to settle into my new role."

"I chose the Environment Agency for my career because I'd enjoyed the placement, and because I believe strongly in the importance of what we do here. And there are other pluses, too great work/life balance, really good benefits and the security of working for a government organisation. I'd recommend it to anyone."