Emily, a Level 3 Engineering student, recently joined WeMaintain on a one-week student placement for an immersive  engineering work placement. WeMaintain gave her  insight into the lift engineering industry, and greater clarity about her future career path.

Exploring career options can be challenging—especially in highly technical industries like engineering. For students considering lift engineering careers, gaining real-world exposure through a student placement in engineering can be a crucial step in understanding what the role truly involves.

At WeMaintain, developing early engineering talent through structured student placements and shadowing opportunities is a key part of building the next generation of engineers.

Discovering Lift Engineering Through a Student Placement

Emily is currently studying Level 3 Engineering, covering both mechanical and electrical disciplines. While she had a general interest in engineering, lift engineering wasn’t something she had previously experienced first-hand.

Her interest in the industry began at home. “My dad has been in the lift industry for years, so I’ve always been fascinated by what he does.” said Emily. The placement gave her the opportunity to explore the profession in a real-world environment, spending a week shadowing her father, Ian Thompson, an engineer at WeMaintain.

This experience offered Emily an authentic introduction to lift engineering careers and the realities of working in the field.

Expectations vs Reality in the Lift Engineering Industry

Before starting the placement, Emily expected lift engineering to be largely mechanical. One of the biggest surprises, however, was just how much electrical engineering is involved.

“I really like electrical engineering,” Emily explains. “We’re learning about it at college at the moment, so it’s been great to see what we’re learning applied in real life.”

Seeing classroom theory translated directly into practical application helped reinforce her learning and highlighted how varied and technically complex the lift engineering industry can be.

Engineering Work Experience in the Field

During her student placement in engineering, Emily shadowed Ian, an experienced engineer and visited a range of sites from office buildings with high occupancy to residential buildings as well. She experienced first-hand how different lift systems operate and how control panels and configurations can vary between installations.

Experiencing multiple systems gave Emily a broader understanding of the technical variety involved in lift engineering careers. With no prior experience in the industry, she found the immersive learning process both engaging and enjoyable. 

Support, Mentorship, and Confidence at WeMaintain

A key part of Emily’s positive experience was the level of support she received throughout her placement, “I felt comfortable asking questions, observing live work, and learning alongside experienced senior engineers”.  

This supportive environment helped build her confidence and confirmed that engineering is the right field for her. The placement also reinforced that her studies are directly relevant to real-world engineering work—an important realisation for students early in their careers.

How the Placement Shaped Emily’s Career Direction

Before completing the placement, Emily wasn’t entirely sure which direction she wanted to take in her career. Experiencing lift engineering first-hand gave her greater confidence in her future choices.

“It’s definitely something I can see myself doing,” she says.

The student placement with WeMaintain provided clarity, direction, and a realistic understanding of what a career in lift engineering could look like.

Encouraging More Young People — and Women — into Lift Engineering Careers

Emily would strongly recommend this type of engineering work experience to other students. She believes immersive placements are especially valuable, as college courses don’t always offer the opportunity to work with real equipment or see engineering in action.

She also spoke about her experience as a woman in engineering. In her college class of around 25 students, only two are female—a reality that can be challenging at times. However, during her placement at WeMaintain, Emily felt welcomed and supported, reinforcing the importance of inclusive and encouraging environments within the lift engineering industry.

Final Thoughts on Engineering Student Placements

Emily’s experience highlights the value of real-world exposure in helping young people explore lift engineering careers, build confidence, and connect academic learning with practical application.

Student placements like this play a vital role in developing future engineers, offering insight, mentorship, and meaningful engineering work experience that can shape long-term career decisions.