| GRADUATE PROFILES |
| WILL ASTILL |
| Background |
I graduated from Nottingham University in summer 2004 with a 2:2 BEng in Mechanical Engineering. During my degree I took a year in industry and worked for a design engineering consultancy specialising in rail wagon design. After graduation I worked for the same design engineering company as a designer specialising in 3D CAD. I continued to work as a designer until Winter 2005 when I decided that I would need more hands on experience and a job with more engineering content to progress within the industry. I applied for a job within Engineering Support Group (ESG) and was enrolled on the graduate scheme in September of that year. |
By being enrolled on the Graduate scheme (IMechE approved MPDS Scheme run by the Association of Train Operating Companies - ATOC) my move to ESG has meant that my development as an engineer has been greatly accelerated. It is my aim to become a Chartered Engineer but in order to do this I need to complete Further Learning in addition to monitored professional development because the minimum standard required by the IMechE is now an MEng degree. ESG are supporting me during this and have also provided me with the opportunity to participate in projects that relate to the courses I am taking. This has proved invaluable in helping me to understand the course content. ESG’s close links with EWS (the largest Rail Freight Hauler in the UK) have also provided me with the opportunity to examine hands on cases relating to the course content which relates to materials failure and failure investigations. Details of the courses can be obtained by following the links below: |
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| Projects |
At the moment my time is split 25:25:50 between external courses, practical work relating to projects and office-based work. I am currently working on the Class 66 into France Project in a variety of roles which have included everything from draughting to production planning and project engineering. This has also meant that I have had the opportunity to get experience with working on and troubleshooting electrical systems. |
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| Over the previous year I have also completed many of the training requirements of the graduate scheme and have even had the opportunity to ‘drive’ a class 66 using the Class 66 simulator at EWS Doncaster. I have just finished a two-week practical placement within an EWS Diesel Traction Depot working with the very experienced maintenance personnel to repair class 66 and class 60 diesel engines and I will be supporting the ESG/EWS testing team in France over the coming months during series testing on the locomotives. |
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| For further information please contact Will.Astill@esg-railconsultancy.co.uk
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