Top tips for As & A-Level Results Day

Ahead of AS and A-Level results we asked our MEP Technical Assistant, Dervla Heaney a few questions about her career journey so far as she undertakes her placement year with our Contracts Department.

Dervla, tell us a bit about your background?

I am from Loughmacrory in Country Tyrone, and I attended Dean Maguire College for 7 years. In that time, I completed both my GCSEs and A-Levels. At GCSE level I studied Technology and Design, History and Irish and Environmental Technology, Construction, and health and social at A-level. I am currently studying BEng Architectural Engineering at Ulster University Belfast and am undertaking my placement year with NUGENT, and I am really enjoying it so far.

What made you choose your course?

I have always had a keen interest in perusing a career the construction industry and after studying environmental technology at A-Level I realized my main interest was within sustainability and renewable energy and the generation of power.  When researching courses Architectural Engineering stood out the most to me as the course covers a lot of aspects from Mechanical and Electrical Engineering to modules covering AutoCAD, thermodynamics, and renewability. I think this has given me a head start on my placement year.

I attended a few talks for women in STEM and construction and seeing the opportunities available it clarified that this is the industry I was interested in.

Tell us a bit about your role so far with NUGENT?

Already in my short time at NUGENTS I have covered a wide range of tasks in many different roles.

I work closely with contracts mangers both on site and in the office reviewing projects, creating programmes and managing project documents.

If you could provide any advice to individuals for results day / picking their courses, what would it be?

The advice I would have for students picking their courses is to look at all the options and do a course or job that you will enjoy. No matter what results you get there is always a path that is right for you and don’t let results stop you from getting to where you want to be.