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    SOCOTEC UK and Ireland extends relationship with University of Portsmouth into 12th year

    SOCOTEC UK and Ireland extends relationship with University of Portsmouth into 12th year

    Wed 09/10/2025 - 17:00
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    SOCOTEC UK and Ireland is excited to extend its relationship with the University of Portsmouth’s Engineering Geology and Geotechnics BEng course into its 12th year.

    SOCOTEC UK and Ireland is excited to extend its relationship with the University of Portsmouth’s Engineering Geology and Geotechnics BEng course into its 12th year.

    Since 2013, the testing, inspection and certification leader has taken on at least a single bursary student from the university for a 10-month placement as part of its Industrial Bursary Scheme.

    More recently, the partnership has extended to members of the Ground Investigation (GI) team, leading a two-day course at the university.

    Emma Bell, Principal Engineer at SOCOTEC, is a University of Portsmouth alumni of 2010, before joining SOCOTEC as a fully-fledged employee in 2018.

    She now leads much of the partnership with the institution.

    The 12-year relationship has allowed so many students to have benefitted from the wealth of experience available at SOCOTEC.

    This year, our two bursary students, John and Sharon, have been on ground investigation projects out in the field, helping to collect data, which, with client approval, they have then been able to use in their dissertation work.

    Each year, we know our bursary students are on a really good pathway, and once they’ve completed their final year of study, we frequently offer them a position with us, as we know the quality of professional we are getting.

    Either way – we enjoy seeing the students enter the working world, seeing them do well on their own two feet and forging their own career paths.

    Emma Bell, Principal Engineer, SOCOTEC

    This year, John Ford-Crush and Sharon Adekunle joined the SOCOTEC team. John was on-board for the full 44-week placement, while Sharon joined the GI team following the closure of her previous placement employer.

    Both made a massive impact on projects across the team, and are considering returns to SOCOTEC, at the end of their third year of study in 2026.

    I’ve really enjoyed my time with the GI team at SOCOTEC. I’ve learned so much and the experience has been invaluable.

    This collaboration allows students to gain practical engineering experience on real projects while in education, while SOCOTEC benefits from access to motivated talent and the opportunity to develop future engineers already familiar with company operations.

    I’m very grateful to the University of Portsmouth and SOCOTEC for allowing me this opportunity. To join the team when I did was very beneficial for me, and I’m excited to apply my learning to the rest of my academic studies, as well as the start of my professional career.

    My immediate career goal is to graduate and secure a position in the contracting sector, as I believe gaining hands-on site experience and understanding field operations is essential before transitioning to reporting and analytical roles.

    Sharon Adekunle, Undergraduate Engineer, SOCOTEC

    Another key area of support SOCOTEC offers, is through the practical training, as well as educational assistance, as Emma continues: “I always offer to read our students’ dissertations, and provide them feedback. Quite often, we connect on LinkedIn too, which allows them to help develop their own professional networks, in anticipation of their graduation from university.

    “We try and teach as many practical, on-the-job skills as possible. We go through a lot of theory, too – it all helps them to understand the basics, including our standard tests for geotechnical testing, and how everything fits together.

    “We hope that by being on-site and in the labs, our students understand what a good sample looks like and what is needed in order to deliver quality results to our customers.”

    Students who join the Ground Investigation team support SOCOTEC’s southern GI operations, primarily operating from offices in Basingstoke and Maidstone.

    Rosamund Gray, is a Lecturer in Engineering Geology at the University of Portsmouth, and is a key contact for the bursary scheme. She can see the benefits of a stint with SOCOTEC for her students.

    The opportunities and benefits our students have gained through the industry placement scheme with SOCOTEC over the years cannot be overstated. SOCOTEC provide valuable site training and also give students real responsibility, building their confidence and strengthening their skills. 

    The placement not only boosts academic performance but also allows students to bring fresh insights into their third year, enriching the entire university community.

    Rosamund Gray, Lecturer in Engineering Geology, University of Portsmouth

    And for Ground Investigation’s Business Unit Director, Sarah Valentine, herself an alumni of the University of Portsmouth, the relationship will continue long into the future.

    SOCOTEC is proud to be investing in the ground engineering industry by helping to nurture the talents of the next generation of engineering, geology and geotechnics students.

    With numerous Portsmouth alumni working across the Ground Investigation Division, our aim is to extend our strong rapport with the University though our Industrial Bursary Scheme, and continue offering a pathway for young talent into the business and wider industry.

    Sarah Valentine, Business Unit Director for Ground Investigation, SOCOTEC

    For more on SOCOTEC’s Ground Investigation team