2023 Summer Placement Journey

This year DFC were pleased to host three summer placements: Andrzej, Max and Aman are full-time students, and each joined us for six to eight weeks. Find out more about their feedback and post-placement reflections in our three-part blog: Summer Placement Journey.

By: Andrzej Caba, 2023 Summer Placement, Leeds

The placement with DFC has been my first experience of this kind, so there was a lot of uncertainty in my mind. However, my passion for fire engineering, which I had developed during my time at the university, gave me the confidence required to take on this opportunity.

Throughout my eight weeks at DFC, I encountered numerous highlights, both in the professional and social aspects of the placement. I was involved in more projects than I had initially anticipated. However, the workload was not overwhelming, thanks to the support and guidance I received from everyone around me.

As someone who loves attending concerts, I’ve always been concerned about fire safety in entertainment venues. During my placement, I had the chance to work on multiple entertainment venues, some of which were even located beyond the UK borders. My tasks included conducting mark-ups, providing comments, delivering design notes, and engaging in performance-based designs to establish safe egress time. The latter was particularly interesting because, though it has been often mentioned in my university classes, we rarely got the chance to put it into practice due to time constraints. Learning the practical application of these concepts has been invaluable.

One of the things I appreciated most about my time at DFC was the variety of projects I was involved in. From delivering a Fire Statement for a residential scheme to working on a high-rise building project in Scotland, to undertaking SFE modelling and certification checks – every day brought new and unexpected challenges. At DFC, one day you could be learning about green roofs on residential buildings, and the next, you’re being lectured on the rules and joys of cricket (a sport I had never watched before joining DFC).

The atmosphere at the DFC Leeds office is laid-back, providing a fantastic learning environment. It’s an environment where you feel comfortable approaching anyone, no matter what the question might be. The team is always open to help, and asking questions is actively encouraged. Once a task is completed, the feedback provided is thorough and clear, allowing for rapid learning and growth without unnecessary struggles. I’ve had the opportunity to experience various aspects of fire engineering, from early design stages in new proposals to conducting evaluations on existing buildings for potential changes.

Overall, it has been a great pleasure to work as a part of the DFC team. I have improved my skills in communication, time management and planning, teamwork and technical writing. I have also gained huge insight into fire engineering, something that will help me further in my university classes and professional career.

If you are interested in joining us for a summer placement, keep an eye out on our Careers page in September. Typically, the window for applications is open until December.