Sharing knowledge and creating opportunities

Hatch Mott MacDonald graduate engineer Shawna von Stockhausen is one of our many staff worldwide who share knowledge and experience, enriching the learning experience of local schoolchildrenSpanning school visits, lecturing at universities, apprenticeships and advanced research and development, our staff are involved in developing knowledge, sharing experiences and encouraging younger generations to see the wealth of opportunities that are open to them across the fields in which we work.

"The company's real concern for improving the lot of people around the world is inspiration." Staff feedback provided to the 2010 Sunday Times Best Companies survey

Liaising with schools, colleges and universities

Across the world, many of our offices organise work experience placements for schoolchildren and college students. Many staff attend school careers events, give presentations and run workshops. We conduct mock interviews for students preparing to graduate from school to help them improve their presentation skills in preparation for the world of work.

We have close links with universities. Staff contribute to academic programmes as visiting lecturers and professors and work with students on research and development projects. In the UK we awarded 86 bursaries to students in 2009. Many of our offices provided vacation and industrial placements.

Apprenticeships

Leading a consortium of consultancy firms, we have launched the UK’s first advanced apprenticeship in civil engineering. The first trainees enrolled on the three year programme at South Thames College, London, in 2010 and will work towards the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Technician Engineer qualification.

This sustainable initiative shows how private sector employers can work for the good of society and industry by creating opportunities. It provides a local response to a local issue, focusing on unem-ployment in London and widening the capital’s skills base. The programme, developed with the National Apprenticeship Scheme, the ICE and Transport for London, has been welcomed by the Engineering Council and the Confederation of British Industry.

Leading best practice

The Group funds two not-for-profit enterprises. Cambridge Education Foundation promotes global partnerships contributing to development and dissemination of education best practice. Our health think-tank HLSP Institute works to inform debate and influence policy on international development in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals.