He was under the supervision of a variety of teams at Cognition to facilitate a broad learning experience in the short time he spent with us. We are pleased to have had this opportunity to broaden his horizons and expand his knowledge base whilst demonstrating Cognition’s ongoing commitment to social value.

Instead of us telling you about Matthew’s placement, here is what he had to say about what he gained from his experience at Cognition:

“I have recently undertaken a two-week-long work experience placement with Cognition Land and Water from the 19th to the 30th of August. I spent time in their office in Central London and on site at Meridian Water, a large-scale regeneration project in Enfield, North London. During my time at Cognition, I worked with various teams and gained knowledge and experience across a range of different fields, such as science and engineering, planning, business management and organisation, and marketing.

Whilst working on site I learned about the kind of work that Cognition undertakes on sites such as Meridian Water. Examples of Cognition’s work include soil testing and treatment for contaminants, engineering works such as piling and stabilising to ensure sites are suitable for development, and environmental management tasks to minimise disruption towards the environment, such as preventing water and air pollution and minimising dust, noise and vibration. I gained experience in understanding and writing technical reports and documents, interpreting data, and using computer software such as GIS (Geographical Information Systems) as well as other kinds of mapping software.

As well as the practical side of Cognition’s work on site, I also gained insight into the logistical and management side of their work. I learned about the various roles of people and teams working on site, spanning several different professions and industries, as well as learning how Cognition works alongside other companies and organisations to deliver projects effectively on a large scale.

Whilst working in the office I did some tasks relating to the marketing side of the business, including finding out how Cognition markets itself via social media such as Instagram and LinkedIn, and learning about how analytics can be used to boost engagement and allow the company to gain traction online. I learned about some of the local community events that Cognition takes part in, such as charity football matches and sponsoring racing events at Donington Park and Silverstone.

In summary, I enjoyed my two weeks working with Cognition and found their work very interesting. I have been able to learn and develop valuable knowledge, skills and experience across a wide range of industries, fields and professions.”

It was great to have Matthew at Cognition for two weeks and we wish him the best of luck in his future studies!