A collaborative secondment programme between Story Contracting and MHB Consultants has given graduate engineers a unique opportunity to experience the entire project lifecycle, from design to construction.
As part of this initiative, Story Graduate Engineer Frankie Adams moved into MHB’s Temporary Works Department to gain hands-on experience in the design process. Meanwhile, MHB Graduate Engineer Gabriele Valente transitioned from a design-focused role to a site-based secondment with Story Contracting.
This exchange, which took place from October to December 2024, enabled both engineers to develop a deeper understanding of how designs are implemented on-site and how temporary works are prepared before reaching the field.
Transitioning from a site-based role at Story Contracting to a design-focused position at MHB enabled Frankie Adams to grasp the engineering decisions that influence construction projects before they are handed over to site teams. Frankie commented below on his placement experience:
“Following the successful completion of my Graduate Engineer Programme with Story Contracting, I was fortunate to undertake a three-month external secondment with MHB Consultants, working in the Temporary Works Department. Having previously been involved in implementing various temporary works schemes at Story, I was eager to learn about the design processes behind these works before they arrived on-site as ‘Approved for Construction’ drawings. My goal was to gain technical experience that would contribute to my ICE chartership progression and help me implement temporary works designs on-site with a deeper understanding. During my secondment, I collaborated with local authorities and industry-leading contractors, gaining exposure to a diverse range of projects.”
Meanwhile, during his three-month placement on the OB044 Thornliebank Bridge Replacement project, Gabriele acquired hands-on experience with on-site processes, encompassing quality assurance, safety protocols, and last-minute design modifications. Gabriele also took part in our Industry Taster Day assisting the winning team with the bridge building competition. Below Gabriele describes his time working on site during his placement:
“Coming from an office environment, it was an honour and an important educational experience to spend three months working on-site at OB044 in Thornliebank with Story Contracting. I had the opportunity to understand and explore tasks that are sometimes overlooked in the design process. It was interesting to see and take part in quality assurance and testing, which I was not fully aware of before.”
These secondments enhance collaboration between designers and contractors, ensuring engineers develop the skills needed to produce cost-effective, buildable solutions. The secondment programme reflects the company’s investment in talent development and industry collaboration.
Following the success of this programme, Story Contracting and MHB are continuing to explore further opportunities for cross-discipline learning, ensuring that the next generation of engineers is equipped to deliver infrastructure projects efficiently and safely. Graeme McInnes, Story Contracting’s Engineering Director, commented below:
“Providing our engineers with the opportunity to work directly with our key partners not only enhances their technical knowledge and capabilities but also strengthens the relationship that has been the cornerstone of the Story/MHB partnership’s success over the past decade”.
