Capita Symonds - Meet our graduates

Meet our graduates

Chris, 26

Qualifications: MIHT MEng

Start date: September 2003

Why Capita Symonds?

Because its people were more enthusiastic about their work on exciting innovative projects than any other organisation that I spoke to. From the University recruitment fair right through the recruitment process there was a buzz about the organisation and the things that were being achieved that was infectious.

What project(s) are you working on at the moment?

I'm working on a number of projects, including Peterborough North Westgate (a large city centre retail-led mixed-use redevelopment), Parc des Portes de Paris (investigating the transport impacts of a redevelopment of a media village to the north of Paris), and Aviapark in Moscow (a Bluewater-sized shopping centre that is proposed just to the north of Moscow city centre).

In also working on two new halls of residence at Imperial College, Kensington. This was my third ever job and I've now been working on it for over three years. Working in London, particularly Kensington, you learn a lot about public consultation and making sure the design considers all the various stakeholders. The most interesting part of my job is quite often explaining a scheme to non-technical people and trying to see the proposals from many different viewpoints.

What opportunities have you had to train and develop your skills at Capita Symonds?

I'm in the process of applying to become a Chartered Engineer with both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Highways and Transportation. Capita Symonds has helped and guided me through this process and has given me the relevant training to achieve this goal. I've also had opportunities to undertake research and present on relevant topics at conferences and seminars.

What are your aspirations for the future?

I hope to gain my Chartership later this year, after that I would hope to continue working on the interesting types of projects that I have been involved in over the past four years.

The business is constantly evolving and I have already had some opportunities to help expand and diversify the areas of business that we operate in. I would like to undertake more of this type of business development work in the future and to lead others into these emerging areas where we can increase the number of fields in which we are market leaders.