James
For my industrial placement I spent a year working for Ricardo in the Business Development team. As someone with a strong interest in both the automotive engineering industry and business management, a role in Ricardo’s commercial division was perfect for me. Over the twelve months I have been involved in a diverse variety of projects and initiatives, working with Business Managers in developing relationships with our key clients, creating proposals for new projects, and generating new business opportunities in Europe and Asia.
Through this role I have also had the opportunity to work with multiple teams from within Ricardo’s Industrial & Automotive division, including Engineering and Test Operations, Project Management, and Marketing – enabling me to learn different skills from various experts across the company. I have also been given the opportunity to deal directly with suppliers and clients from all around the world, on projects ranging from transmission prototypes to full vehicle programmes.
I have benefited significantly from my time at Ricardo. The fast paced environment of working in a leading engineering consultancy, the variety of challenging projects to get involved in, and the responsibility and time given to undergraduates right from the first day make it a hugely rewarding and enjoyable place to work and develop as an engineer.