Graduate Scheme Mini-Interview

A year ago we started a conversation with Dr Linley Hastewell at the University of Southampton about bridging the gap between university and consultancy. Last week that partnership came full circle when Linley visited the FiveRivers office to speak with the team about professional development and chartership. What began as a graduate placement idea has already resulted in two outstanding Southampton graduates joining the business permanently, Amaya and Ethan. We’re now expanding this collaboration to include placements, research links and networking events.

We caught up with Amaya and Ethan following their successful graduate placements for a mini interview. Here is what they had to say:

1. Tell us what you did over your 6-month graduate placement at FiveRivers?

Amaya: During the graduate scheme I have had the opportunity to get involved in a variety of design team projects and attend design site visits.  The work has included desk-based assessments, GIS mapping, and helping with designs.  There has also been the chance to learn about other departments, such as going on fieldwork with the monitoring team, helping to complete bids, and writing technical notes for natural capital BNG projects.

Ethan: During my six-month Graduate placement, I developed key skills in designing river landscapes aimed at improving fish accessibility, supporting flood mitigation, and restoring natural carbon sinks. This included learning to use new design software such as CAD, while also further strengthening my existing GIS capabilities. I also gained valuable experience on the consultancy side of the business, working closely with clients to understand project requirements, deliverables, and desired outcomes for individual schemes. In addition, I participated in a number of site visits and field monitoring activities across the south of England. These included water quality testing using specialist equipment such as YSI sondes and hydrometric surveys measuring river flow, depth, and velocity utilising Electromagnetic flowmeters.

I am now fortunate to be part of the Water and Environment team, where I enjoy a balance between practical outdoor fieldwork and consultancy-based data analytics.

2. What was the most valuable part of the graduate scheme?

Amaya: The most valuable part of the graduate scheme has been gaining first-hand experience to see how consultancy operates. There are lots of elements to design projects that I did not know about, but being part of multiple projects at different stages has been a great way to learn. I’ve also enjoyed expanding my river restoration knowledge.

Ethan: Due to the wide range of opportunities and roles within 5R, the graduate scheme has provided excellent exposure to a variety of unique projects and areas of work. This breadth of experience has been the greatest benefit of the programme, allowing me to develop a clearer understanding of the career path I would like to pursue.

3. Did you learn something you didn’t expect to? If so, what?

Amaya: I was trained to pick up Proge CAD skills for completing designs on the Hogsmill project. This was something I was not familiar with before starting the graduate placement, so it’s been really interesting to give it a go and see how the programme is used for river restoration projects.

Ethan: How to flow gauge and manage time effectively when lone working.

4. What are you looking forward to working on next? 

Ethan: I am looking forward to delivering our assessment on eel migration and the potential impacts that outfalls may have on it. This will involve systematically reviewing each watercourse within the project scope and ranking the potential level of impact, helping to prioritise locations where further investigation or action may be required.

5. What is the biggest misconception with graduate schemes?

Ethan: That there is not room for sideways growth within the role applied for and that your passions and interests cannot be explored, when in reality, none of this is true!

6. Would you recommend this graduate scheme to others, and why? What advice would you give to the next graduate joining the team?

Amaya: Yes, as there has been lots of support from the team to learn the day-to-day role which has really helped the transition from university into consultancy. I’ve enjoyed being given lots of different types of tasks to learn and would recommend for the next graduate to say yes to as many opportunities as possible.

Ethan: Yes, I would recommend this graduate scheme as it provides the opportunity to experience and be part of a professional business environment, while still encouraging personal development and growth. The scheme offers exposure to a range of projects and opportunities beyond those initially outlined, allowing graduates to broaden their skills and understanding of the industry.

My advice would be to think about how you can individually add value to the business by bringing forward new ideas and innovative approaches. Being proactive and looking for more effective or efficient ways of doing things is always appreciated and can make a real difference.