Starting a year in industry is one of the most impactful steps an engineering student can take. It offers hands on experience, real project exposure, and the opportunity to develop professional skills that go far beyond the classroom.

We caught up with Rosie, our sandwich-year placement student, who has been working with us as an Undergraduate Engineer since September. Now halfway through her placement, she shares valuable insight into how her year is going, what she’s been working on, and how the experience is shaping the future of her career.

What motivated you to pursue a sandwich year placement in civil or structural engineering?
A placement year felt like the best way for me to develop practical skills and build confidence before graduating, allowing me to gain real industry experience and see how the theory from university applies in practice. I believe it’s a great way to network with companies and to understand practices within the industry that may not be taught at university. 

After completing 14 different modules at university so far, I was able to recognise what I enjoyed and that I wanted to gain sector specific professional skills whilst having time away from university. This’ll help me return next year with a clearer and more informed perspective.

Can you tell us about your placement role, what have you been working on and what a typical day looks like? 
The role has given me great insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of a structural engineer. A typical day can include shadowing meetings (both online and in person), creating drawings, and learning from senior engineers. Occasionally, I’ll also go on-site with another engineer to carry out an inspection, reviewing what is being built against the drawings.

I’ve supported the structures team by carrying out calculations and checks, and by developing initial models of steel-framed structures using specific software. I also contributed to the design of reinforced concrete elements and assisted in producing structural drawings. In addition, I’ve been involved in foundation design and completing load takedowns for both new builds and larger structural projects.

How have you found your time at Rossi Long so far? What has been the biggest highlight of your placement? 
My time so far at Rossi Long has been very enjoyable, and I’ve felt welcomed by everyone. I really appreciate the time my colleagues have consistently taken to explain new concepts to me, which has strengthened my understanding of the industry and increased my confidence.

I’ve had great opportunities to work across many different aspects of structural engineering. The highlight of my experience so far has been visiting sites and seeing projects constructed in real life. In the future, I hope to visit a site for a project that I’ve played a significant part in.

Is there a project or task you’re particularly proud of? Why?
One project I’m particularly proud of was my work on a new Endoscopy unit, where I created the initial structural software model. I learnt how to build the model, apply loading, and check member sizes, which produced deflection outputs under different load cases. I also developed an embodied carbon spreadsheet for the scheme, giving me valuable insight into the environmental impact of using steel and helping me grow as a more mindful engineer.

The project also took me on site to measure an existing retaining wall and confirm it matched the architectural drawings. Those measurements were then used to complete retaining wall checks in Tekla Tedds. Seeing both the digital and physical sides of the design process was incredibly valuable.

Another memorable project involved a Listed estate, where I produced plans and sections to illustrate demolition zones and maintain a one metre safety buffer. I followed this with a detailed load takedown - accounting for steelwork, gable roofs, and three storeys - to determine appropriate foundation widths.

What new skills have you developed while working at Rossi Long? 
Overall, I’ve become more confident working in a professional environment, and I have expanded my skillset as well.

I’ve developed stronger technical skills, especially in structural analysis and reinforced concrete design. My confidence in industry software has grown, including Revit, Tekla Tedds, Tekla Structural Designer, and AutoCAD.

By using AutoCAD, I’ve been able to understand different elements within structures, from timber roofs and bulkheads to foundation piling details. I’ve also learned how to design members and foundations, and how trees influence the design of foundations.

My improved understanding of how structural members respond to different loads has enabled me to use greater initiative when performing preliminary design work within different software.
Communication and time management have also been essential in balancing multiple tasks - skills I had previously developed but have now significantly strengthened.

Has anything surprised you about working in this industry or department?
I was struck by how collaborative the industry is, with projects involving constant communication between engineers, architects, and contractors. I also hadn’t expected how much initiative and practical judgement go into estimating member sizes, positions, and similar details, as opposed to relying solely on exact calculations. It has shown me the importance of having a strong understanding of engineering principles and the responsibility engineers carry.

How has this experience shaped your future career goals? 
This experience has confirmed my interest in engineering - specifically, structural engineering. It has also helped me understand the skills needed to progress towards chartered status. The placement has given me clearer direction for my dissertation topic, as it has highlighted areas within the industry that I otherwise would not have explored.

Overall, this experience has further strengthened my decision to pursue a master’s degree.

What advice would you give future students considering a placement year?
I’d encourage students to take the opportunity as a placement year helps bridge the gap between university and industry. Career fairs are a great way to build confidence and create connections with companies - go armed with questions to ask to make you stand out. 

Create a strong CV and LinkedIn account, as this will make it easier for companies to find you. Apply early (as early as September) for placement opportunities, as this will allow you to have more of a chance to find a placement which is the right fit for you.

Would you recommend a placement year to other engineering students? Why?
Yes, I would highly recommend it.

It provides practical experience that you cannot gain in lectures alone. You develop both technical and professional skills, confidence, and a better understanding of the industry, which will help massively in the final year of university and beyond. I’m finding it helpful to have a break from university, as I’m gaining practical experience and will be able to return to my studies with a fresh perspective on the industry.

A placement year provides a great networking opportunity and gives you a taster of what you are studying. There’s always a chance you may not enjoy a certain area of the industry, and a placement is the perfect way to identify that before you choose your dissertation topic, for example.

Completing a placement also makes you more competitive when applying for graduate roles - overall, it’s a worthwhile investment in your career!

We are proud to announce that Nelson’s Journey has been chosen as our Charity of the Year for 2026.

This incredible charity provides vital support to children and young people in Norfolk who have experienced the death of a loved one. Their mission is to help those affected by bereavement understand and cope with their feelings, while finding hope and resilience during one of life’s most challenging times. Nelson’s Journey also works with professionals who support children, raising awareness of the issues faced by bereaved young people.

The Rossi Long team is committed to making a meaningful difference for the families the charity supports. We have a range of activities planned throughout the year to raise awareness and funds for their essential services and look forward to working closely with Nelson’s Journey to help make a positive impact.

Learn more about Nelson’s Journey and their incredible work at nelsonsjourney.org.uk.

The Halls, which includes St. Andrews Hall and Blackfriars Hall, in Norwich is due to reopen to the public in 2026 after extensive refurbishment.

Funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government the work preserves the two buildings' historical integrity and includes the sensitive insertion of a new lift shaft and improvement of disabled access.

Venue facilities were upgraded with a major redesign of the interiors to improve accessibility, alongside updates to the exterior of the building. The café and bar have also been upgraded.

Our structures team has been involved throughout the project, working on both St Andrews Hall and Blackfriars Hall. Working closely with the client and the design team, we have provided innovative solutions to aid the careful and sympathetic alterations of the Grade I Listed buildings including engineering for the new Beckets Chapel roof, careful insertion of a new lift shaft which utilises a previously concealed historic arch, in addition to several other aspects of the refurbishment.

St Andrew's Hall is the centrepiece of The Halls project - a distinguished complex of medieval buildings that stands as the most complete surviving friary complex in England. Originally established by the Dominican Blackfriars in 1307, the site has undergone various transformations over the centuries, reflecting its rich historical and cultural significance.

Both buildings were closed to the public throughout much of 2024 and 2025, allowing for works to progress. Now that the restoration of The Halls has been completed, the buildings will once again allow members of the public to enjoy these historic spaces.

Find out more about our involvement.

In 2025, Pancreatic Cancer UK was chosen as our Charity of the Year. Our goal was to raise as much money as possible while increasing awareness of the incredible work the charity does to support those affected by this devastating disease.

From pizza days and bake-offs to photography competitions and a 28-mile February run challenge, we had a lot of fun coming together to make this happen. Highlights included our golf day, which was a huge success - thanks to the generous donations from our clients and industry partners, that we were pleased to match, the event raised over £5,000. We also completed a 12-hour relay run around Whitlingham Broad, where our team collectively ran 45 laps of the 2.2-mile circular route.

We are incredibly proud to announce that our final fundraising total is £8,210, which will help Pancreatic Cancer UK continue providing expert advice and vital support to those living with pancreatic cancer.

Caitlin Ashdown, Senior Community Fundraising Manager at Pancreatic Cancer UK commented; “We are all so grateful for everything Rossi Long has done to raise money for and awareness of pancreatic cancer throughout 2025. Rossi Long's support will drive forward much-needed progress for pancreatic cancer - helping us to transform the future for people with pancreatic cancer and enabling us to be there for those who are affected today. Because people with pancreatic cancer deserve more than hope."

Around 10,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year, yet it has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers, with around 9,000 deaths annually. It remains the deadliest common cancer, with more than half of people diagnosed dying within three months. While survival rates for many other cancers have improved, pancreatic cancer has too often been overlooked. Pancreatic Cancer UK goes above and beyond for everyone affected by this brutal disease, and we are honoured to support their mission.

Find out more about Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Rossi Long is always keen to support charities, especially those within the local community. So, this Christmas, we decided to work with N&N Hospitals Charity to collect items for their Send a Smile with Santa gift appeal. Having provided engineering consultancy for many of the construction developments at the hospital, the charity seemed the perfect fit.

Throughout November, we set up a donation box in our reception to collect gifts to take to the Charity. Altogether we collected over 30 gifts ranging from toiletries and teddys, toys and blankets to chocolates and puzzles. The gifts will be donated to young people at the Jenny Lind Children’s hospital, where the donations will be wrapped and given to those staying in hospital on Christmas Day.

Nicholas, Blake, and Laura played their part as Santa and delivered the gifts to the Charities headquarters in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in early December. They had the opportunity to meet those working for the charity and the Play Team who will be handing out the gifts over the festive period. The team was thrilled to have received our donations:

Lynn Crombie, from the N&N Hospitals Charity, said: “A huge thank you to everyone at Rossi Long Consulting for these wonderful Christmas gifts and chocolates for our patients in the Jenny Lind Children's Hospital. Being in hospital is never easy, but these gifts will go a long way to putting a smile on the faces of the children, particularly at this festive time.

"Thank you to Nicholas, Laura and Blake for delivering everything to us. On behalf of the N&N Hospitals Charity, we would, once again, like to thank Rossi Long Consulting for thinking of us and bringing such thoughtful gifts."

N & N Hospitals Charity is dedicated to supporting better care at the Norfolk and Norwich, Cromer and District, and Jenny Lind Children’s Hospitals. Their focus is on enhancing patient experiences through innovative funding and additional resources.

On Saturday 13th September, the Rossi Long team took up the challenge of running around Whitlingham Broad in our 12-hour Charity Relay Run in aid of our charity of the year, Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Starting at the crack of dawn at 6.40 am, the team took it in turns to run laps around the 2.2-mile circular route around the Broad. The runners were lucky with weather in the morning, being greeted by a stunning sunrise across the water. It was all change in the afternoon when they were faced with torrential rain and storms, but the team continued to run on.

25 runners took part in the event, carrying an inflatable baton that was passed at the handover point. The last runner crossed the finishing line at 6.40 pm, completing our challenge. An impressive 45 laps were run throughout the day, which totalled just under 100 miles.

Following months of training, those who participated were delighted to have done something memorable to help raise awareness and money for the vital charity. Following generous donations from clients, friends, family, and the public, we’re thrilled to announce we raised £1,600 for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Pancreatic Cancer UK ensures everyone affected by this devastating disease has expert information and support to hold onto. Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer, with more than half of people diagnosed dying within three months. Whilst survival rates have doubled across the most common cancers, pancreatic cancer has remained sidelined and forgotten. Around 10,500 people a year are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK, but it has the lowest cancer survival rate, with around 9,000 dying every year.

The charity supports anyone affected by pancreatic cancer, from patients to their loved ones, across the UK. Their vision is that everyone with pancreatic cancer survives to live long and well.

Visit Pancreatic Cancer UK’s website for more information and support.

Doors to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital’s new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) are now open, providing the local community with additional facilities to assist with diagnosing a range of medical conditions.

The last CAC to be built as part of the £86m investment for three new diagnostic centres across Norfolk and Waveney, the new centre will offer ultrasound, X-ray, CT, and MR scanning, providing care for around 156,000 patients a year. The other two hospitals involved in the programme are James Paget University Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn; both of which we have provided engineering support for.

Rossi Long Consulting has been involved throughout the project, with our team of engineers delivering civil and structural engineering design support, alongside Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy Reports.

Our director Robert Scholes commented; “The new CDC has been a brilliant project to be involved in and we’re thrilled to see it up and running. Over the years, we’ve worked on many schemes for the Trust and we were delighted to be involved in another vital development for the hospital.”

Featuring LED lighting, air source heat pumps, solar panels, and natural ventilation, the new building has been awarded a BREEAM rating of excellent.

Find out more about our project delivery on our dedicated project page. 

Image courtesy of Maxim Commercial Photography

Throughout 2025, we are supporting the incredible charity Pancreatic Cancer UK. We have already raised a significant amount of money for the charity through various fundraising initiatives, including bake-offs, photography competitions, a 28-mile running challenge, and our client's Golf Day, to name a few.

However, we would like to increase our fundraising efforts further to enable us not only to raise more money for the charity, but also to generate awareness of the charity's fight against pancreatic cancer.

On Saturday 13th September, we will be taking part in a 12-hour continuous running relay around Whitlingham Broad, Norfolk. Many of the Rossi Long team have signed up for the challenge, which will see them running multiple laps throughout the day on the 2-mile circular route.

The relay will start at 6:45 am, as the sun comes up, with each participant passing the baton upon completion of their lap. We aim to keep the baton moving continuously until sunset, 12 hours later.

This will be a challenging event, especially for the less confident runners amongst us, so we would appreciate any support you can, whether that’s coming down to the Broad on the day to cheer us on, sending good luck messages, or donating money via our Just Giving Page to raise vital funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer, with more than half of the people diagnosed dying within three months. Whilst survival rates have doubled across the most common cancers, pancreatic cancer has remained sidelined and forgotten.

Visit Pancreatic Cancer UK’s website for more details about the charity and how they are supporting research and those affected by the disease.

Last week we proudly hosted a memorable Charity Golf Day in aid of our charity of the year, Pancreatic Cancer UK, bringing together clients, colleagues, and friends for a day of friendly competition and fundraising.

Held at Bawburgh Golf Course, the day teed off with a warm welcome, complete with freshly brewed coffee and bacon rolls to fuel golfers for the round ahead.

The main event was a team competition based on the best two Stableford scores per hole, with highlights including the Nearest the Pin contest and the popular Beat the Pro challenge - giving golfers a unique opportunity to test their skills against a seasoned professional.

Players paused for a well-earned break at the half-way house where they had the chance to indulge in a delicious selection of homemade cakes and bakes. The sweet treats were not only a hit with the golfers but also added a little extra to the fundraising pot, thanks to generous donations from both bakers and tasters.

Following the final putts of the afternoon, guests gathered in the clubhouse to enjoy a well-deserved two-course carvery meal. This provided the perfect setting for the prize presentation ceremony, where prizes were awarded for top team performances, nearest the pin, and those who braved the Beat the Pro challenge. A game of Heads and Tails during the meal helped to raise even more for the charity. Congratulations to the winners!

Thanks to the generosity of our attendees and supporters, we are thrilled to announce that a Rossi Long fund matched total of £5,400 was raised to support their invaluable work of Pancreatic Cancer UK. These funds will go a long way toward helping raise awareness of the devasting disease.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended, sponsored holes and contributed to making the event such a success. Your participation and donations were key to making the event a meaningful and successful day.

More information on Pancreatic Cancer UK.

The brand-new Norfolk Food Hall was officially opened this week - a project where we provided civil and structural engineering design services alongside transport planning and flood risk assessments.

Located at the Royal Norfolk Showground, the new versatile venue will provide retail space for permanent and rotating artisan vendors together with a restaurant celebrating the region’s finest local producers, becoming a year-round feature servicing the local area and the Showground’s events. It has been designed to celebrate Norfolk’s agricultural roots and growing reputation for high-quality, locally sourced food.

Taking around eight months to construct, the building includes energy-efficient lighting, an array of solar panels to the roof and an intelligent water management system, reducing the environmental impact. The Norfolk Food Hall has a striking exterior with insulated cladding panels, whilst the inside hosts a high-quality open-plan space with high ceilings and plenty of room for local vendors to showcase their produce. An outdoor covered seating area is also provided to serve the restaurant.

Construction of the Norfolk Food Hall was made possible through strategic funding and strong community support. It was backed by a mix of public and private investment, including regional development grants and contributions from local stakeholders.

Find out more about our involvement and Norfolk Food Hall.