25/02/2005 - Students
of Tomlinscote School will be given an insight
into the career of a flood defence engineer
on Tuesday 1 March, as Environment Agency
employees visit the school’s careers convention.
Tomlinscote School, based in Frimley, runs
the careers convention on an annual basis,
inviting several employers, universities
and colleges to talk to over 500 students
aged 15-19, and their parents. The aim of
the convention is to get students thinking
about the potential careers on offer to
them, and provide information on how to
pursue the path that sparks their interest.
Just months after the Environment Agency
announced the launch of the first Flood
Defence Foundation Degree (November 2004),
the convention provides an ideal opportunity
for existing engineers to talk about their
jobs with the area’s future workforce.
Matthew Graham, newly appointed South East
Thames Improvements team leader, sees the
day as a chance to dispel some of the myths
that surround working for a Government body.
“Some may have the perception that working
for the Government can be somewhat dull”,
he said. “But this is far from the truth.
We are constantly working on important issues
that affect people’s lives, managing flood
risk in the area. We work with the latest
technology in the field, and every day presents
a fresh challenge. That may not be for everyone,
but for those looking for a career that
will continually challenge them – flood
risk management may be just the one.”
He continued: “At the moment we have a
really strong team here in Frimley, who
have been responsible for over 250 flood
defence construction projects in the past
five years. But staff eventually move on,
and we need to ensure that their successors
are able to maintain this high standard.
The new flood risk management foundation
degree provides a great avenue for those
interested in the field to learn on the
job. We already have two students working
in the area, and the scheme is proving to
be a real success.
“Hopefully Tuesday’s event will encourage
even more people to think about flood risk
management as a career, and maybe we can
look forward to seeing a few of them in
the future.”
