Careers

+ How does OPS approach training and development?

Technical training is fundamental to our discipline. Our best designs are the result of proper application of technical guides and building standards, as well as informed material practicalities. We encourage and provide support for all our young engineers to work toward Chartership with the Institution of the Structural Engineers or the Institution of Civil Engineers and maintain regular CPD sessions for all of the team to continuously improve our knowledge.

Additionally, and most importantly, is how we arrange our design 'studio' working environment, allowing exposure and involvement between all levels of our team - learning from one another is what we do best!

+ What is the OPS attitude to work/life balance?

At OPS, we try and make socialising and team building part of our typical working week. OPS are a small team and we work hard to support each other to meet project commitments or individual challenges. We are sensitive to personal arrangements and allow and encourage flexible working to all our staff to achieve a fair balance. We treat people as individuals and not as a resource.

Working from home has been a necessity through the pandemic and whilst we continue to encourage a reduction in unnecessary travel with occasional working from home, we do enjoy the collaboration between staff members in the office, encouraging creativity and facilitating development. We take an employee-led approach to this, and pride ourselves in helping team members achieve this wherever they work.

Visiting active construction sites will also be expected of all our engineers, but we endeavour to accommodate this around normal working hours.

+ What benefits do OPS provide?

All staff at OPS are provided with the following benefits:

• Healthcare & Life Insurance
• Pension
• Training
• Bike for Work scheme
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Assorted social events

Where possible, team members are consulted regarding the projects they are given and their schedules, and a competitive approach to work/life balance is strived for.

+ Equality and diversity

OPS are a tight-knit team who prioritise collaboration and challenging one another when producing our designs. We firmly believe that diversity of views and opinions result in better designs and that this can only come from a diverse array of people within our team.

We recognise that the construction and engineering industry has historically been a tough and often hostile place for women, people from ethnic minorities and the LGBT+ community. We are committed to ensuring that this is rectified now and going forward. We are committed to equal pay, sensitivity of specific needs, and empowering and protecting our team members within challenging environments outside the office. We're a small company, so we endeavour to achieve this through listening to each and every team member and encouraging open conversations.

We're also passionate about supporting the mental and physical health and wellbeing of our staff, and we're always open to ways we might be able to support each other.

+ Work placements and work experience

OPS are committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and regularly invite university-based students for paid work placements, and school-age students for a week-long work experience. We take pride in the work we do and enjoy sharing our experience and knowledge with those who are starting their career, and those who are looking to understand more about our discipline. Many of our graduate engineers began at the company as placement students during years-out from university or summers, and we always endeavour to provide industry leading exposure to varied design work, site visits and design meetings for our undergraduate team members.

For applications or enquiries regarding work experience and work placements, please feel free to contact us via our email address above.