AN ENGINEERING, environmental and planning consultancy is diversifying its teams by empowering young professionals at the start of their careers.

Caulmert, which has offices in St Asaph, Bangor, Altrincham, Nottingham, and Kent, is highlighting the value of graduate jobs as it prepares for exponential growth in the next 12 months.  

Sioned Jones and Ehsan Bastani have been appointed to graduate roles at the company, as an environmental scientist and civil engineer, respectively.

During her studies for an integrated master’s degree at Bangor University, Sioned undertook a successful work placement with Caulmert, as a junior environmental scientist, which later led to an offer of a full-time position.  

Her day-to-day role involves data handling for report writing, assisting with compliance for environmental permits, visiting sites, and overseeing science tests. 

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Sioned, who is based at the Bangor office, said: “I feel so lucky to not only be in a job that involves being outdoors but to also have such a positive first step on the career ladder at Caulmert.

“At the moment, I’m working on an active quarry and inert landfill site in Anglesey, taking groundwater and surface water samples, as well as gas monitoring.

“As a fluent Welsh speaker, I also work alongside the planning team to help translate documents, giving me an opportunity to utilise my bilingual skills.

“No day is the same for me and that’s what I enjoy most about my field.”

Investing in Sioned’s continuing professional development, Caulmert enrolled her on a soil-logging course in Banbury, Oxfordshire, developed by the UK’s leading soil and rock description expert, Professor David Norbury.

Based at the Altrincham office, University of Bath graduate, Ehsan is on the digital drafting and modelling (DDM) team, which is part of Caulmert’s engineering division.

Working on drainage and earthworks projects, the graduate civil engineer aspires to develop his skills in structures, as well as highways – a sector which Caulmert is set to develop further in 2023. 

Ehsan said: “I’m in a great position at Caulmert as it’s a flexible and positive working environment, where I feel challenged, but I know that help is constantly available.

“I’ve always had a passion for maths and physics, so when it came to choosing a degree, I found civil engineering aligned with my skills and strengths.

“I’m currently involved in the earthworks for an excavation project in Holyhead, where I’m assisting with volume calculations and using ground investigation to determine which materials need removing.

“Alongside this work, considerations also have to be made for the gradient of the terrain, which provides useful intel for the contactor working on the excavation.”

Co-founder and managing director Mike Caulfield said: “Investing in graduate careers provides Caulmert with fresh perspectives, which in turn diversifies our teams and strengthens our offering as a consultancy.

“Sioned’s talent shone through during her work placement as an environmental scientist and there was no doubt that she would be a great fit for the Bangor team.

“Ehsan will play a key role in the DDM division as we bolster our highways offering this year. He clearly has a strong appetite for learning more about other aspects of civil engineering.

“Sioned and Ehsan are both assets to Caulmert and superb examples of why companies should be considering graduates as part of their recruitment strategies.”

As it continues its support of young professionals, the consultancy is now looking to appoint two additional graduates for its environment team and one for its geotechnical engineering team.