Don't be afraid to ask for help, you are not expected to know everything
What was the highlight of your Placement?
The highlight of my time at Dowty was being asked to present the findings of my Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) flow modelling study at a technical QRM. There was a large audience present, with many important members of the engineering department. This was a great privilege as it was a showcase of the R&D activities at Dowty. It was refreshing to be given such a level of responsibility on a project, which was very successful in improving the current process, as well as introducing a tool to the business that would allow further improvements as its full capabilities are discovered.
An added bonus was that I found the work extremely interesting and exciting, as I was able to build on my experience in CFD and coding techniques, as well as the opportunity to work with a whole host of different organisations.
One piece of advice would you give to students who are considering taking a Placement?
Don't be afraid to ask for help, you are not expected to know everything. Just ask as many questions as possible; if you see something interesting, ask about it, this is how I got involved in my most interesting projects. Just dive in.
How did you find your role?
Using recruitment resources such as RateMyPlacement, Gradcracker, Milkround and TargetJobs.
What did Dowty Propellers think?
Benjamin has collaborated closely with industry leaders (NCC, AMRC) to obtain material permeability test data and share modelling best practice. This was a very challenging project, and he’s produced outstanding results in a remarkably short time frame. The outcome will help us to design a better part, process and tool for what is potentially a key future product to Dowty.