Current Graduates on the Engineering Scheme
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Richard, Joined 2006
Why did you choose to apply to BOC?
I applied to BOC because I wanted to be part of for a well regarded and established blue-chip company that had excellent core values at its heart, such as a strong commitment to its employees, customers and the environment. I applied for BOC's engineering graduate scheme because it offers such a diverse range of opportunities that give you real challenging responsibility and accountability from day one. Uniquely, you also have free and open contact with all levels of management, right up to the board level for the UK, which provides superb networking opportunities, and unsurpassed support and exposure to the whole business. Overall I believed, and still do, that the BOC graduate scheme provides an excellent grounding for my engineering career and in becoming a fully chartered engineer.
What was your first placement?
My first placement was as a Project Engineer, being based at our Special Products facility in Immingham, NE Lincolnshire. This was a fantastic placement that gave me real responsibility and several challenges from day one. I was singularly responsible for and managed several small to medium scale projects at the branch, which tested me in many ways. I certainly felt like a valuable member of the team, and had an excellent chance to make a real positive impact on the business.
What tasks have you been responsible for and what are you currently involved with?
Since Immingham, I have been a Maintenance Project Engineer at our tonnage site at Margam, and a Technical Support Engineer working for Customer Engineering Services. In all placements, I have been responsible for managing my own budgets, making my own project plans to meet tight deadlines, and been singularly accountable overall. I also ensure I maintain BOC's 100% commitment to safety and the environment. Key things I have been involved with have included commissioning and running a nitrogen injection facility into the national gas grid, designing, installing and commissioning medical oxygen supply systems, managing and overseeing plant demolition, analysing hydrogen plant emissions and many more. My current role is as Plant Performance Engineer at our Remote Operating Centre near Sheffield, which sees me gaining shift and plant operations experience, examining and improving on plant efficiencies and programming a new Operations Portal which gives remote visibility and reporting capability on any plant to key personnel from any computer.
What do you like most about working for BOC?
Working for BOC means that every day is dynamic and different, with new and exciting challenges to face and overcome. I relish having so much responsibility early on in my career, and really value how much BOC supports you as a graduate on the scheme. I certainly feel very confident that when I come to apply for chartership after completing the accredited scheme, I will have plenty of experience to draw on, and have a wide range of skills that should give me an excellent grounding for coming off the scheme into a permanent role with a great career foundation.
What has been your highlight so far?
I have already made many personal achievements, and so picking a highlight as such is difficult. As just a graduate in training I have felt privileged to have had significant involvement and responsibility in such a high-profile project such as our nitrogen injection facility into the national gas grid. This facility is responsible for 20% of the UK’s natural gas demand, and so mistakes are not an option! I have also almost become the ‘expert’ in some medical oxygen supply systems, which has seen me responsible for training entire departments, and acting as a key contact for resolving issues and installing new equipment.
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Okiemute September 2008
Why did you choose to apply to BOC?
I chose to apply to BOC out of recognition of the services
provided and because of its international presence. I accepted the offer from
BOC because of the depth and breadth of development available to people. I felt
that the graduate position was inline with my five year career goals and that
the opportunity to develop within BOC compared to a lot of other companies would
fulfill my current ambitions. I knew I wanted to work for a small to medium size
company. BOC as it stands is that; a close knit company with a large presence
round the world. Within BOC, there exists an open door policy that is well used
among all staff members. I also knew that a graduate scheme would be more
beneficial to me than a straightforward job in an already defined area. I really
appreciate the length of BOC's graduate scheme and believe that by the end I
will be ready for charter-ship. I ultimately feel that the BOC graduate scheme
would provide me with a sound foundation for my engineering career.
What was your first
placement?
My first placement was as an Engineer with the Special
gases team in Guildford. As part of the central engineering support team for all
the special gases facilities in UK and Ireland, I have been involved with a
variety of projects even from my very first day when I was told to pack up my
bags as I would be going to the Immingham site to assist with a HAZOP. I have
had a variety of challenging projects to work on involving nitrous oxide and
helium and real responsibility for these projects as well.
What tasks have you been responsible for and
what are you currently involved with?
My job
title changes depending on what I'm working on; my main title is a special
products engineer, under this umbrella, I work as a process or project engineer.
I was responsible for developing the solution for the nitrous oxide driers. I
have been responsible also for trialing various solutions in respect to the
operation of the nitrous oxide plant which has included carrying out several
trials on the operating plants. As a process engineer, I have supported two key
nitrous oxide projects, one to reduce emissions and the other to improve our
storage facilities. Apart from this, I have assisted the production engineer at
our Morden site with his helium facility and also assisted the engineer at one
of our customer facilities with their helium issues too. Finally, I have
researched and developed a telemetry system for our LPG tanks based on customer
sites as well.
What do you like most about working for
BOC?
I like the fact that I am
gaining hands-on experience and getting to interact with a diverse group of
people. I'm learning a lot and I'm not bored with what I'm doing as I've been
involved with a significant amount of routine and non routine projects. The department
I started working at was very versatile and energising and there was always something to draw from,
from the people around.
What has been your
highlight so far?
The highlight of my job has been the
amount of responsibility that I have actually been given. I have worked to
create a model on helium usage and I am very happy with what I was able to
produce for the customer.