We recently welcomed Jack Bowes from UTC South Durham for a work placement at Hambleton Steel, where he had the opportunity to experience a wide range of departments and processes across the business from fabrication, estimating to contracts.
During his time with us, Jack observed operation throughout the factory, gaining first-hand insight into how steel components are produced. He saw flanges being manufactured, beams cut to size, holes drilled, and the blast machine in action cleaning metal. He also got involved practically, assisting a plater with marking and measuring flanges in preparation for tacking.
Jack’s placement also included time in several office-based teams. He worked with the contracts team to understand how drawings, models, and project queries are managed. With the estimating team, he learned how detailed calculations are carried out to determine building and material costs. He also spent time with the design team, checking drawings against models to ensure they matched the intended design.
Reflecting on his experience, Jack said the most surprising aspect was the level of detail involved in estimating:
“They go through so much information to price each piece of steel for a project.”
The placement broadened Jack’s understanding of the industry, particularly the stages that take place before steel reaches site:
“I didn’t realise so much went on before the steelwork made it to site. I had only thought about welding and fabricating, so to see the process from estimating and design through to contracts and fabrication was eye-opening.”
When asked what advice he would give to future students, Jack highlighted the importance of being open-minded and curious:
“Be prepared to go into areas you may not be interested in, as you learn a lot about the business. Ask lots of questions – all the staff are friendly and knowledgeable.”
We’d like to thank Jack for his enthusiasm during his placement and wish him all the best in his future studies and career.
