Meet Giuliana, a Civil and Structural Engineer supporting Costain's delivery of sustainable infrastructure.
What led you to your career at Costain?
" I joined Costain via its graduate scheme in 2021. At the time I knew I enjoyed structural design, however I was keen to work across different projects and sectors before specialising. Costain works across both natural resources and transportation, and the grad scheme offers plenty of opportunities for rotations throughout both divisions. It therefore ticked all the boxes.
"I was also attracted by Costain’s purpose: “improving people’s lives”, which really resonated with my personal and professional values since I was looking for a role where I would be able to help people and contribute to building sustainable infrastructure."
How does your role contribute to improving people’s lives?
"Working on a range of major infrastructure projects has allowed me to positively impact people’s lives. Whether it’s assessing highway structures to ensure a road network is resilient and fit for purpose for road users, or delivering a carbon capture project to enable the production of low carbon electricity, its easy to see how our roles as Civil and Structural Engineers carry a positive, lasting purpose."
What’s your biggest professional achievement and why?
"I was part of our team who obtained approval for the implementation of 3D printed concrete for the NZT/NEP project on Teesside. From conducting early research into the solution and presenting it to our client, before going on to lead on the scope, it’s created fantastic development opportunities for me and its hugely rewarding to see the work coming to fruition."
What do you enjoy most about working at Costain?
"There is a wide variety of projects to get involved in across the various sectors that Costain operates. So far in my time here I have had the opportunity to work in Road, Rail, Aviation, Water and Energy! This has given me an appreciation for how each sector works and I have taken several learnings forward from all. In addition, good opportunities for development regularly come up, both internally and externally, and Costain provides the time and support to pursue these opportunities."
What have you learned / what has inspired you during your time at Costain?
"I have been inspired by the number of women I am surrounded by who are excelling in leadership positions, both at Costain and in the sector as a whole. This has exceeded my expectations from before I entered the industry and it is inspiring me to see where I can progress my own career."
What advice would you give to someone starting out in their career?
"Keep your options open and take advantage of any opportunities that come your way, whether it’s different roles, sectors or even just specific training courses. What you may believe to be the right path for you may not match your expectations when you get there, so being open-minded will help with exploring different routes before settling into one for the long term."
Connect with Giuliana on LinkedIn or search our careers page to learn about our current job opportunities.