I love that the work I've done has benefitted others

Following this, Vincent commenced his MEng in Aerospace Engineering with a Year in Industry in 2015. Vincent is originally from the Netherlands and is currently working at Dyson for his year in industry.

Dyson is a well known global company, who produce premium consumer electronics such as vacuum cleaners and hair care devices. Dyson receive around 14,000 applications each year for various undergraduate and graduate roles each year so the competition is very strong to gain a role and students should show experience of technical expertise when submitting an application.

60 seconds with Vincent Crasborn

Why did you decide to do a year in industry?

Mainly to be more employable but also as I thought I'd enjoy it after 3 years of being at University.

How did you find your year in industry opportunity?

It was suggested to me by a member of Dyson HR through SELA. SELA is the Sheffield Engineering Leadership Academy and is designed to help undergraduate students to become leaders who create positive impact in research in industry.

Tell us about project(s) which you have been most involved with whilst on year in industry?

My main projects have consisted of:

A competitor and trend analysis on the packaging of products in the various market segments that Dyson operates in. We are especially interested in their cost per product and sustainability credentials, as well as the level of innovation that exists for packaging performance and unboxing.

Establishing a second source for some of our air purification media, both to improve security of supply and reduce cost. The challenges here have been especially within product verification and securing the motivation from other sides of the business to implement this. A cost difference of even just a few cents per square meter has an enormous impact at the order quantities we have.

Currently, we have an internal design for a custom coffee/tea glass and bottle for Dyson employees, and I'm working to find a supplier that will be able to provide these. The challenge here is the quantity, which is too high for most small or mid-tier suppliers, but too low to attract the interest of market leaders.

Sourcing a thermistor that can withstand very high temperatures with very quick response rates, whilst still fitting in a circuit-board mountable size.

What do you like about the company you have done your year in industry with?

It's a very dynamic workplace, with relatively (for a large corporation) open lines of communication and in a very relaxed environment. The fact that there is only one shareholder also means that project foci and business direction can change extremely quickly, and I like that kind of variety.

What has been the most challenging aspect to undertake a year in industry?

Learning how to influence/negotiate and communicate with relevant stakeholders to get things done, or to clarify limits and opportunities. Also how to work with the information you can get to draw valid conclusions.

What has been your favourite part of completing a year in industry?

The fact that the work I do is of direct benefit to others.

Which part of your degree has helped you with undertaking a year in industry the most?

My knowledge of airflow has been useful at times in the filter media project, but by far and away the analytic methodology taught to engineers has helped me most.

What do you hope to do after you graduate?

The only disadvantage of a year in industry is that I'm now aware of how many interesting jobs are out there - I'll be honest that this is a question I'm deliberating and a decision that I'm procrastinating.