An insider's view of life at RSK as a graduate

As the RSK graduate scheme launched in April 2023, we thought it was time to find out a little more about the experience, so we went straight to source to hear from the graduates themselves.

Designed to create a community of graduates and offer them an appreciation of the RSK Group and the opportunities it offers, the scheme saw its first graduates begin their placements in October 2023. Reflecting the diversity of RSK’s more than 200 companies, the graduates work across a range of sectors, including ecology and construction.

We’ll follow the journey of four graduates throughout their two placements, as they gain more experience and immerse themselves in RSK life. Our first instalments are provided by Anand Suresh and Erín Hood, who are currently working at RSK Group companies Richard Allitt Associates (RAA) and Cambridge Environmental Assessments (CEA) respectively.

The company’s approach to learning on the job paired with the confidence the team has in me has accelerated my learning. Despite having started working in the water industry with very little knowledge about how it works, I am already much more confident in my knowledge and ability. I value having such experienced colleagues on hand and the early careers team has been a constant source of support.

I’m thrilled that the mentorship programme has just begun and I am eager to use it as an opportunity to pursue chartership.

The whole team at CEA has been very welcoming and accommodating. Team members encourage me to get involved in projects and I’m constantly learning from them. At first, I was nervous about going into a sector that I had no prior practical experience in; however, my colleagues have been very supportive in my learning journey, especially when I’m familiarising myself with new statistics software or laboratory techniques and protocols.

So far, I have had the opportunity to be introduced to various aspects of the role, including laboratory work, fieldwork, statistical analysis and reviewing and analysing pieces of relevant EU legislation. The most daunting part of the role was the lab work, as I had no experience in that field, as most of my undergraduate studies were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. I am particularly enjoying being out in the field and getting to grips with water policies and legislation. As my placement continues, I Iook forward to being involved with more chemical trials and continuing to undertake fieldwork.