The Engineering Development Scheme – Meet the class of 2022!
Every Autumn ABL Group marks the start of a new professional chapter with the arrival of our annual graduates onto the Engineer Development Scheme (EDS) – a RINA and IMarEST-accredited graduate programme.
ABL accepts graduates from naval architecture, marine, offshore engineering, and other engineering disciplines with an interest in a career in the marine industry, to join the 4-year programme. The successful graduates join a team of specialists who have a dynamic work culture and share a passion for several different engineering sectors.
Through annually-interchanging placements, the scheme offers the opportunity to gain experience across ABL Group’s broad scope of services, market sectors, and the chance to work in different international offices. Group companies, Longitude Engineering, OWC and Innosea also take part in the scheme.
This year, we are delighted to welcome to our global group of companies, the class of of 2022 – Shrey Aggarwal, Francis Huntingford, Abigail Shorrock, Jasper Gaskin, Amy Barker, Mak Elvis Hong Ching.
Meet the class of 2022!
Shrey Aggarwal | Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Ocean Engineering | ABL Aberdeen Office
Where are you based for your first year on the scheme and what is your role?
I am Graduate Engineer and for my first year I am based in ABL’s Aberdeen office. My work is focused primarily on Marine Warranty Surveying, right from technical document reviews through to – eventually – on-site inspections. Over the next few years, I hope to develop technical competencies across the wide range of services that the Group offers, which will also help me gain chartership.
What do you hope to gain from the scheme?
I have already discovered that there are many opportunities to collaborate on different projects with other ABL offices and I am eager to make the most of this. Given that this is my first time living in Scotland, I am also looking forward to all the new experiences that come with being in a new place – including building new friendships!
Francis Huntingford | MEng Mechanical Engineering | Innosea Nantes Office
Where are you based for your first year on the scheme and what is your role?
For my first year I am based in Nantes with the INNOSEA team. I will be involved in the research and development of renewable energy technologies – particularly floating wind, floating solar and tidal power. As projects change, my role will shift through the year, which will allow me to build on my experience.
What are you looking forward to most during your time on the Engineering Development Scheme?
I applied for ABL’s EDS as it offered me the opportunity to explore the broad scope of the group’s marine operations. I am excited about the freedom the scheme gives, as it will allow me to build my experience in such a wide variety of technical roles, whilst still being grounded in an industry I enjoy. I am enthusiastic to learn as much as I can from the professionals that I will work with during my time on the scheme; getting to know my colleagues will be a pleasure!
I am a keen kayaker and so I am excited to transfer my enjoyment of ocean sports, to working on ocean technologies. The EDS also gives me the opportunity to contribute to the energy transition, thereby hopefully preserving our natural world, and our enjoyment of it!
Abigail Shorrock | MEng Mechanical Engineering | Longitude Newcastle Office
Where are you based for your first year on the scheme and what is your role?
The Engineering Development Scheme gives me the opportunity to work across all sectors and services covered by ABL and the group companies. During my time on the scheme, I will work alongside skilled engineers, and learn everything I can from them about the marine and energy sector. As the scheme is 4 years, there are also many graduates further through the scheme, who will be able to provide help and advice through the peer mentoring scheme.
What are your ambitions for the scheme, and what are your future plans?
One of the things I’m most looking forward to is the opportunity to work abroad and travel offshore whilst working on various different projects. As for the future… I don’t really have specific plans. I am at the start of my career and with the help of the ABL EDS I hope to discover the areas of the marine and energy engineering sector that I most enjoy. Although no plans are set in stone, my main goal is to gain my Chartership and travel the world as a highly qualified engineer.
Jasper Gaskin | MEng Mechanical Engineering, Master Maritime Engineering Science | ABL London Office
Where are you based for your first year on the scheme and what is your role?
I’m based in the London offices with the ABL Maritime team for my first year of the EDS and will be supporting the team with maritime salvage work.
I will be working along side ABL Group maritime consultants who have a unique appreciation of the importance of crisis management and the need for risk and cost mitigation throughout a salvage or wreck removal case.
I look forward to working with the expert team made up of special Casualty Representatives (SCRs) appointed by the Lloyd’s of London SCR panel, salvage masters, naval architects, marine engineers, master mariners amongst other specialists in relevant engineering and marine disciplines.
What do you hope to gain from the scheme?
I’m very excited to apply my degree in Mechanical Engineering to an industry that’s new to me and learn new skills along the way.
My hopes are to gain knowledge and experience from professionals in the various fields I’ll be working in, and of course travel around the world as I rotate through the scheme to experience life in different countries. Achieving chartership status, which the scheme is tailored for, is something I look forward to working towards throughout the next four years.
Amy Barker | MEng Ship Science with Naval Architecture | Longitude Southampton Office
Where are you based for your first year on the scheme and what is your role?
For my first year of the EDS scheme, I will be based in the Longitude Southampton office. I will be working within the naval architecture team, and working on projects across the range of the Longitude business. I will be working within a large multi disciplinary team who bring substantial experience in all forms of marine design, upgrades and conversions.
What are you looking forward to most on the Engineering Development scheme?
I am most looking forward to developing my skills as a naval architect in the zero emission ships design space, which presents some new and exciting challenges. The variety of projects that are available to work on is amazing, which will help to broaden my skillset beyond what I expected.
There are also many opportunities to take part in ship visits and surveys. This is a great way for me to get an idea of the scale and functionality of all aspects of a ship, and to see the ship structure up close instead of just on paper.
I also am excited about the option to work at different companies within ABL throughout the scheme, where I can learn about different sectors of the business. This leads to opportunities to travel whilst working and meeting lots of different people within ABL which I am really looking forward to.
Mak Elvis Hong Ching | MEng Civil Engineering | OWC London Office
Where are you based for your first year on the scheme and what is your role?
I am based in OWC, London for my first year, and I am working with the Geotechnics team as a Graduate Civil Engineer. As a team, we are supporting offshore wind developments as Owner’s Engineer. We provide technical support to our clients who need help filling the gap in their in-house expertise. Our responsibilities include building soil profiles and providing geotechnical design related to offshore installations.
I am also involved in project management roles to support our clients’ projects. As a project assistant, I will communicate with experts within OWC, and coordinate their efforts to put together proposals and create deliverables for our clients.
What are your ambitions for the scheme, and what are your future plans?
I joined the EDS scheme as I was intrigued by ABL’s wide expertise in the energy sector, especially renewables. I really look forward to joining different teams, growing my engineering skills and deepening my knowledge in the renewable energy sector. In addition, ABL’s large global presence means that I will have a chance to work with international clients, and even work abroad in ABL’s overseas offices. My future plans are to join ABL’s overseas offices and help build ABL’s global presence in new places.