Cameron Dempster joined Kilmac as a summer graduate intern from Heriot-Watt University, where he is studying for a BEng in Civil Engineering. He is about to enter his fourth year and is aiming for a career in civil engineering, ideally in a role that combines both on-site and office responsibilities. His placement with Kilmac gave him the opportunity to experience life on site first-hand and confirmed that site engineering is a career path he would now consider.
Cameron’s placement ran for just under two months- July to September, where he was based at the Chryston High School Extension project in partnership with BAM. He first connected with Kilmac at the Heriot-Watt University Careers Event, where he was keen to gain practical, on-site experience of what life is like as a civil engineer.
As part of the on-site engineering team, Cameron supported both setting out and quality assurance tasks. He was given responsibility for issuing and marking up drawings, as well as developing practical skills in the use of surveying equipment.
During the placement, Cameron learned how to set up and operate a total station, progressing from a complete beginner to being able to set out independently. He also gained valuable experience in quality assurance and setting out procedures, providing him with insight into the daily responsibilities of a site engineer.
This practical knowledge has prepared Cameron for his future career, equipping him with transferable skills that will support him in both his studies and graduate opportunities.
Cameron worked closely with Andrew MacKenzie and Chris Toal, who helped him settle on site, explained drawings, and trained him in setting out and other core engineering tasks. He also received support from Alison McGowan and Peter Gibb, who were always available to offer advice. Cameron noted that the site team were helpful in ensuring he worked safely and confidently in a busy construction environment, and he felt very much part of the Kilmac team throughout his placement.
Cameron particularly enjoyed the opportunity to get hands-on experience with the total station, finding it rewarding to see construction works built in line with the markers he had set out. His standout moment was setting the shutters for a large retaining wall that required precise tolerances — an experience that gave him a real sense of achievement.
Reflecting on his placement, Cameron shared:
“I enjoyed most of the placement but my favourite part was using the total station and seeing what I set out come to life on site. It has shown me what life is like as an engineer on site and it’s definitely a role I’d now consider for the future.”
Cameron encourages future students to ask as many questions as possible and recommends Kilmac for placements. He highlighted the balance of responsibility and support he was given, which enabled him to learn quickly and feel confident in his role.
