Inspiring the Next Generation: Caleb’s Work Experience Week at BB7

At BB7, we believe in creating opportunities for the next generation to explore the built environment and gain first-hand experience of the many career paths available within our industry. As part of our commitment to making a positive impact through BB7’s”Do Good, Be Good” value, we were delighted to welcome Caleb McKeown to our Glasgow office for a week of work experience.

Throughout the week, Caleb spent time with colleagues from across the business, gaining insight into everything from Fire Engineering and Façade Engineering to Finance, Legal Risk, Project Support, Human Resources and Marketing. Here’s Caleb’s account of his experience.

Monday: First Steps into Fire Engineering

Going into my work experience week, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from a fire engineering consultancy. As someone with an interest in civil engineering, transportation and highway engineering, I was keen to learn more about the wider built environment and the different career paths available within it. My first day quickly showed me that there is much more to BB7 than I had initially realised.

I started with an introduction to Fire Engineering with Jack Donohoe, where I learned about the role fire engineers play in helping ensure buildings are designed and maintained to meet fire safety standards. To help me understand how these principles are applied in practice, I worked with building floor plans and even used plans from my own school. Seeing a familiar building through a completely different lens helped me appreciate the level of thought and planning that goes into keeping people safe.

Later in the day, Ellie Warner introduced me to Bids and Tenders. Until then, I hadn’t really considered how companies win projects in the first place. Learning about the process behind preparing proposals and competing for work gave me an insight into the commercial side of the business and showed me that successful projects rely on much more than technical expertise alone.

By the end of my first day, I already had a better understanding of how different teams contribute to the success of a project, both before and after work even begins on site.

Tuesday: Exploring Façade Engineering and Finance

After being introduced to fire engineering on Monday, Tuesday gave me the opportunity to start applying some of what I had learned. With guidance from Jack Donohoe, I worked through a series of mock project mark-ups, using domestic and non-domestic fire safety guidance to assess building layouts. It helped me understand how regulations are interpreted and applied to real projects.

I was also introduced to Façade Engineering by Ozgenur Surmeli. Before the session, I knew very little about the role façades play in buildings, but I quickly learned how important they are to both building performance and safety. We discussed different routes into the profession, university pathways and the variety of work carried out by BB7’s façade team, which opened my eyes to another career path within the industry.

The day finished with an introduction to Finance from Charlotte Warner and Sophie Amos. It was interesting to see how the financial side of the business supports project delivery and helps keep the company running smoothly. By this point in the week, I was beginning to realise how many different disciplines work together behind the scenes to deliver successful projects.

Wednesday: Understanding the Bigger Picture

By Wednesday, I was beginning to understand how different technical disciplines contribute to a project, and the focus shifted towards how those projects are coordinated, managed and delivered.

I spent part of the day shadowing a non-domestic project exercise based on an Aldi store, where I reviewed occupancy calculations, escape widths, and travel distances. Building on the mark-up exercises I had completed earlier in the week, I developed a greater understanding of the considerations involved in fire safety design and how guidance is applied to different building types.

Alongside this, I reviewed Fire and Rescue Service access requirements and route specifications. This showed me that designing safe buildings is about much more than what happens inside the building itself, with access for emergency services forming an important part of the overall strategy.

I also attended a Legal Risk introduction session with Demi Finch, where I learned about the legal responsibilities that accompany technical design. It was interesting to see how risk management and compliance influence decision-making throughout a project and help protect both clients and project teams.

Later in the afternoon, Paula Hassall introduced me to Project Support and explained how projects are organised, monitored and coordinated behind the scenes. Seeing how many moving parts need to be managed helped me appreciate the importance of communication and teamwork in delivering successful projects.

By the end of the day, I had a much better understanding that successful projects rely not only on technical expertise, but also on effective planning, coordination and collaboration between different teams.

Thursday: Seeing Fire Safety in Practice

By Thursday, I had been introduced to a wide range of disciplines across the business, and the day gave me the opportunity to see how many of these different elements come together in practice.

I started the day with an introduction to Human Resources from Jodie Tutte, learning about recruitment, employee support and the role HR plays in creating a positive working environment. It was another reminder that successful businesses rely on much more than technical teams alone.

One of the highlights of the week was being introduced to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Before this session, I had never seen how computer modelling could be used to simulate smoke movement and fire behaviour within buildings. Seeing how these models can help engineers understand building performance during a fire gave me an insight into the technology that supports modern fire engineering and some of the more advanced analysis undertaken by BB7.

Later in the day, I reviewed the structure of a fire strategy before taking part in a walk-around of the Glasgow office building with Michael Russell who is part of our Fire Assurance Team. Together, we identified compartmentation, risers, signage, fire exits and other fire safety measures throughout the building. This was particularly interesting because it allowed me to connect the theory I had been learning throughout the week with real-life examples that I could see around me.

I also spent time researching historical fires, including Grenfell Tower, and exploring the lessons that have been learned from major incidents. This helped me understand how building safety continues to evolve and how past events influence modern regulations, guidance and design approaches.

Friday: A Different Side of the Business

By the time Friday arrived, I had spent the week learning about everything from fire engineering and façade engineering to project support, legal risk and CFD. My final day gave me the opportunity to explore a completely different side of the business: Marketing.

Jade Scammells and Olivia Jones introduced me to how BB7 communicates its expertise, promotes projects and shares technical knowledge with clients and the wider industry. Until then, I hadn’t really considered how important it is for a consultancy to showcase its work and demonstrate the value it brings to projects.

As part of the session, I was given the opportunity to create a LinkedIn post about BB7’s involvement in the Scottish National Gallery project. It was interesting to take everything I had learned throughout the week and consider how complex technical information can be communicated in a way that is engaging and accessible to diverse audiences.

Reflections on My Week

Looking back on the week, one of the things that stood out most was how many different people and disciplines contribute to a project’s success. While each team had its own area of expertise, it was clear that collaboration, communication and teamwork play a vital role in delivering successful outcomes.

My week at BB7 was both enjoyable and informative. Before starting the placement, I had limited knowledge of the different disciplines involved in the built environment, but throughout the week I was able to see how specialist teams work together to deliver safe, compliant and successful projects.

One of the most valuable aspects of the experience was speaking with people from across the business and learning about the different routes they had taken into their careers. It highlighted the wide variety of opportunities available within engineering, consultancy and professional services, while giving me a much better understanding of how different disciplines contribute to the design, construction and operation of buildings.

I would like to thank everyone at BB7 who took the time to share their knowledge and experience with me throughout the week. The placement has given me a valuable insight into the industry and a greater appreciation of the many career opportunities available within it. It has also strengthened my interest in the built environment and left me excited to see where that interest might lead in the future.