Howard Clarke Engineering Foundation Year. BEng Civil Engineering, 2003. PhD Civil Engineering, 2006.

Owner of Plan Structures Ltd.

The Foundation Year course was very diverse as it catered to all engineering disciplines, from civil to electrical, and everything in between. This gave a good variety to the course and meant that there was a steady progression in complexity without any sudden jumps in expectation as the students were all coming from different backgrounds and heading to different degrees.

Why did you choose to come to Southampton?

I opted for Southampton as much for the feel of the place as for the course itself. I liked the open ‘green’ nature of the campus and its location just outside the city centre means it feels more relaxed than some other campuses without being completely out of the way.

Why did you choose to take a Foundation Year?

I had taken Biology, Geography and Design & Technology A-Levels but had a change of direction mid-way through and wanted to study engineering at university. Lacking the technical A-Levels required for direct entry onto an engineering degree course, I opted to make up the shortfall with a Foundation Year.

What did you enjoy most about the Foundation Year?

The Foundation Year course was very diverse as it catered to all engineering disciplines, from civil to electrical, and everything in between. This gave a good variety to the course and meant that there was a steady progression in complexity without any sudden jumps in expectation as the students were all coming from different backgrounds and heading to different degrees.

What were your lecturers and tutors like? Did you find them supportive?

The Foundation Year was run at Southampton City College in my day and the lecturers were a half-way house between a teacher and a university lecturer which made for a great stepping stone from school to university. All of the lecturers were greatly supportive and they came across as very vocational. My maths lecturer during the course of the Foundation Year was probably the best teacher I have ever had.

If you could give prospective Foundation Year students one piece of advice, what would it be?

Treat the foundation year as seriously as the first year of your university degree not as a hurdle to overcome or something to be taken for granted.

What did you enjoy most about your degree?

I look back at my undergraduate days with great fondness and my overriding memories are of my group of friends within the course. There was a great sense of camaraderie, we carried each other through much of the course.

Did you undertake a design project as part of your course? What did you find most useful about it?

Yes, I undertook an individual and group design project as part of my degree. Working closely with my peers was the most beneficial aspect of the project, something that is a pre-requisite working for an engineering firm in professional life.

What does your current job involve?

My current job is very diverse. As I am self-employed, I have to be able to do a little of everything from accounting to marketing. However most of my time is spent designing structural solutions for projects ranging from minor domestic alterations, through architecturally designed houses, to school buildings and sports halls. Generally this means the application of my engineering knowledge gained at university and throughout my career to generate bespoke, efficient design solutions appropriate for the scale and complexity of each individual project.

How did the Foundation Year and your course help you to get the career you wanted?

Above all the Foundation year taught me to work steadily and consistently to give myself the best chance of achieving the best result I could irrespective of the eventual outcome. Fortunately this ethos saw me gain a first class degree, a doctorate and chartership with both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Structural Engineers all of which were key milestones in getting to where I am now.

What has been your greatest career achievement so far?

Setting up and making a success of my own business is by far and away my biggest career achievement to date.