25 August 2015

Costain has become the first engineering company to participate in a study programme organised by the London School of Economics (LSE) that offers LSE MSc students the chance to put their research skills to use in helping improve or solve human resources (HR) issues at external organisations.

The programme, LSE Link, has been running for some years, with students spending time at large corporations to produce a case study with suggested solutions to HR-related problems. On learning of the scheme, Costain’s Performance Improvement Manager, Mohammed Usman Shah, wondered ‘Why not us?’

“I enquired with the LSE and found out they had no construction companies linked to the scheme. I then met their course director, Eddie Donnelly, and spoke to him about the opportunities we can provide. He was really impressed with that; I was initially seeking one student and he ended up giving me three.”

Two of the students have been taken on within the Highways Sector and one within Rail.

“One is looking at addressing capacity and capability in the Highways sector for black and minority ethnic entrants,” said Mohammed. “I wanted to get one of the students looking at how we can become better at encouraging diversity. Another is looking at how we address staff retention through means other than pay, while the third, in Rail, is looking at HR in general.”

Corporate Development Director, Tim Bowen, has met two of three LSE students, something that impressed the LSE, said Mohammed: “They were very happy to receive exposure to top-level leadership in Costain,” he said.

The three officially started in January and are due to present their results this autumn.

 

 

Pictured: Mohammed Usman Shah 

 

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