"Engineering is about delivering projects, not just designing them" – How LSBU prepared me for a career in Civil Engineering
Now a Graduate Civil Engineer at Alan Baxter Partnership, Civil Engineering graduate Nancy reflects on how industry-led projects, site visits and practical learning experiences helped prepare her for a career in engineering.
Can you tell us about the industry-led group design project you worked on during your Civil Engineering degree and what your role was within the team?
One of the biggest projects we worked on at university was an industry-led group project to renovate LSBU's library in Elephant and Castle. Our proposal included creating a new atrium space and adding a two-storey extension to create penthouse-style areas.
What made the project unique was that during the first semester we were expected not only to engineer the building but also to design and model it architecturally. As engineers, that's not something you usually get the opportunity to do. Looking back, it was one of the most valuable parts of the course because I now work with architects every day.
Having that experience gave me a much better understanding of the constraints architects work under and the reasoning behind design decisions.
Within the team, I took on the role of structural engineer while also contributing heavily to the architectural design. Our industry client was WSP, which added a different level of pressure because real professionals were reviewing and challenging our ideas.
The group project was probably the most memorable piece of work I completed at university, because it was the first time everything came together.
How valuable was it to work on a project set by real industry partners rather than a theoretical brief?
That group project was probably the most memorable piece of work I completed at university because it was the first time everything came together.
Up until then, you learn individual modules and theories separately. Suddenly, we had to combine everything and ask ourselves: "How would this actually get built?"
It forced us to think beyond calculations and drawings and consider construction methods, sequencing, buildability and what was realistic on a live project.
Now that I work in industry, one thing that stands out is that university gives you the fundamentals, but engineering is also about understanding how things are constructed in reality and whether something is feasible. That project was the first time I realised engineering is not just about designing things – it's about delivering them.
LSBU students visit major engineering and construction sites across London. Were there any field trips or site visits that particularly stood out to you?
One site visit that has always stayed with me was Heathrow Airport.
What stood out was seeing the amount of planning and coordination required to keep operations running while construction and maintenance work took place around them.
I remember learning how engineers often have limited windows between aircraft movements to carry out work and how precise everything has to be. It made me realise that engineering is not only about designing something correctly, but also delivering it quickly and with minimal disruption.
Hearing about that level of pressure and coordination first-hand gave me a much greater appreciation of the complexity behind major infrastructure projects.
We had some amazing opportunities to visit projects across London and see how things are built, rather than only studying them in drawings or lecture slides.
How did seeing high-profile infrastructure and construction projects in London help develop your understanding of the industry?
We had some amazing opportunities to visit projects across London and see how things are built, rather than only studying them in drawings or lecture slides.
What helped most was seeing how many different disciplines and people are involved in delivering projects. At university, structural, civil, geotechnical and construction engineering can sometimes feel like separate subjects, but on real projects everything overlaps.
Speaking with engineers on site and hearing about their career journeys also helped me understand how broad the industry is and the many different paths available within civil engineering.
University can't fully replicate industry, but those experiences made the transition to work much less intimidating.
Looking back, how did the practical and industry-focused elements of the course help prepare you for your career?
Looking back, I think the practical elements prepared me more than I realised at the time.
Working in teams, presenting to clients, producing drawings, solving problems when designs didn't work first time and justifying engineering decisions are all things I now do regularly.
University can't fully replicate industry, but those experiences made the transition into work much less intimidating because many of the processes already felt familiar.
Were there any skills or experiences from the group project or field trips that you still use in your career today?
Definitely.
One of the biggest skills was producing professional drawings and communicating technical information clearly. The group project was the first time I created drawings that felt like genuine industry outputs rather than university submissions.
Now working in civil and drainage engineering, producing drawings and communicating designs to clients, architects and contractors is something I do almost every day.
Another valuable lesson was understanding that designs rarely work perfectly first time. University projects taught me to expect changes, collaborate effectively and adapt when constraints shift – something that happens constantly in industry.
For me, the biggest advantage was that the course never felt purely academic.
What would you say to prospective students considering studying Civil Engineering at LSBU?
Make the most of the fact you're studying engineering in London because you're surrounded by major projects everywhere you look.
For me, the biggest advantage was that the course never felt purely academic. There were opportunities to visit sites, work with industry partners and gain a real understanding of what engineering looks like beyond the classroom.
I'd also say don't worry if you don't know exactly what type of engineer you want to become. I originally came from a more structural design background at university and now work in civil and drainage engineering.
A big part of university is discovering which areas of engineering interest you most and where your strengths lie.