BCD Group Reviews

I have only been here approximately 6 months but it seems the type of company where people advance at a fairly quick rate. It is also based on what your goals are. The managers ask what your career goals are and if you wish to move up quickly they will throw you harder projects to help develop you faster, so it depends on your personal goals which is good.

I'm not too involved in this aspect of the company, however, there is a People & Culture department that I imagine is focused on this.

Everyone is approachable and friendly at BCD. Even high-up people will have time for a quick chat and will treat you as an equal. There is an often Friday drinks which are nice after a week of work, also very supportive of people that don't drink with 0% beers and other alternatives offered. There is a range of social activities that are supported by BCD outside of work hours, such as social sports teams.

The diversity at BCD is not huge, there are quite a lot of white men. However, this is mainly due to the fact that this is who the majority of applicants are. There is not a toxic environment and they are definitely open to employing anyone, it's just based on who is available and what their qualifications are.

Day-to-day I complete structural engineering calculations, design sketches, and reports. This is achieved whilst communicating and coordinating with the design team to produce multi-disciplinary design solutions for our clients.

With the structure of managers across disciplines, teams, and offices there is always someone available when you need support. Regular check-ins create opportunities for regular feedback with open lines of communication, both written and in-person. There is a robust buddy system for the graduates and interns which enables graduates to have consistent mentorship.

The office at BCD is modern and well-located, making it easy to commute and access nearby amenities. The open-plan design fosters collaboration. We have up-to-date design software, meeting rooms, and comfortable kitchen and break areas. The dress code is business casual. On most days, trousers and a smart polo shirt or dress shirt are acceptable, but I wear more "formal" attire for client meetings. This approach balances professionalism with comfort.

The interview process at BCD was thorough but friendly. It began with a phone call to discuss my background and motivations. This was followed by an in-person interview with a panel of senior engineers and managers. During this interview, the focus was on my passion for structural engineering, what led me to this field, and my personal hobbies. Since I was joining as an intern, there was little emphasis on advanced technical abilities. Instead, they were interested in my attitude, willingness to take on challenges, and how well I would fit within the team.

Pay is fair in this economic climate.

BCD offers a range of training and development opportunities. We have weekly lessons-learned meetings within our department and monthly sessions to share insights across the company. These meetings are valuable for discussing new techniques, and experiences, and learning from past mistakes. Formal training programs cover the latest engineering software, tools, and analysis methodologies, while informal on-the-job training such as readings is also encouraged. The mentorship from experienced colleagues, especially my buddy, has been particularly instrumental in my professional growth.

I usually work my standard hours, occasionally will have to work a longer day but then can often finish earlier later in the week. I personally haven't had to but other staff will often work from home if their child is sick for example. Leave is usually approved as long as sufficient notice is given.

They have new cars with relatively low emissions, recycling is encouraged, they do track their CO2 emissions and are looking at ways to reduce them.