Grontmij

Grontmij is a Dutch-owned international engineering consultancy with offices in the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, the UK and Ireland.

Grontmij has shown dramatic organic growth in recent years which has recently been complemented by a number of strategic acquisitions. In the UK and Ireland, Grontmij has recently acquired landscape architect Whitelaw Turkington, contract dispute specialists Trett Consulting and building services specialist Roger Preston and Partners. The company employs over 8,000 professionals, with offices worldwide.

The sharing of ideas and best practice contribute to the company’s success with many long-term alliances, such as the water industry’s AMP4 frameworks. Graduates are given hands on involvement in large projects such as major roads schemes across the UK and Ireland, working with the company’s many clients in the water sector such as Yorkshire Water, Severn Trent Water, Thames Water and Anglian Water to deliver improvements to the water and wastewater network and providing support to the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency.

"Grontmij is accredited with Investors in People and employees have good access to career development," explained Jan Lewis, Human Resources Director. "They are assisted towards chartered status through practical, professional and financial support." Grontmij schemes are accredited to the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Chartered Institution of Water and Environment Management (CIWEM), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Engineers Ireland.

Other development opportunities include project management, and an innovative Leadership Excellence Programme. A dedicated Learning and Development Manager structures training on an individual basis. "Graduates receive regular reviews from their delegated engineer/mentor through our competency based Performance Development Review process," explained Jan. "Career development is supplemented with formal modules such as health and safety and contract law."

Grontmij looks for graduates with a BEng or MEng. "We want people who think for and challenge themselves and each other," says Jan, "Balance is important, so we offer a range of benefits to suit different needs, including the option to buy five extra days holiday a year." www.grontmij.co.uk

BENEFITS

• Industrial placements available (year long / vacation placements)

• Sponsorship opportunities available

• Non-contributory pension scheme

• 23 days’ holiday, increasing after two and four years

• Cash payment for direct applicants

• Optional employee contribution health plan available

• Subscriptions paid to two professional institutions per annum

• Tailored learning and development opportunities

• Recognised training schemes with national institutions

Graduate profile: Joanne Morgan
In 2006, two months after achieving her BEng civil engineering degree, Joanne Morgan joined Grontmij’s transportation team in Edinburgh. A secondment to Leeds followed, allowing Joanne to fulfil her other major commitment as a full time member of the British volleyball squad.

"Grontmij has been incredibly flexible in accommodating my training schedule", comments Joanne. The arrangement allows Joanne to work part-time with flexible hours to fit in her daily training sessions. From the pressures that come with playing high level sport, Joanne cites her work at Grontmij as "what keeps me sane! It is so refreshing to concentrate on something different! As an engineer, I am still part of a team and the support and encouragement I receive from them inspires me to work my hardest".

Joanne is currently working on the major upgrading of a section of the A1 in North Yorkshire, and more specifically using current modelling techniques in the detailed design of drainage infrastructure. She has also worked on similar projects such as the M52 and M3 in Ireland. "I am working towards becoming chartered", adds Joanne, "Grontmij is supporting me through coaching, mentoring and the structured programme of providing supervising engineers to support graduates on their road to chartership".

This is certainly a significant goal to aim for particularly as Joanne will also be training for the British volleyball team’s debut Olympic appearance in London 2012. "I am so grateful that Grontmij has given me the rare opportunity of nurturing my engineering career whilst allowing me to pursue my sporting aspirations".

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