Chris Evans, Managing Director of Strategic Projects gives speech to students while celebrating 40 years since graduating
On 6th October, Chris Evans, managing director of strategic projects was welcomed back to Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, along with 5 other Civil Engineering alumni for a 40-year reunion event. This event provided an opportunity for students to learn first-hand from industry professionals.
Students and staff joined together to meet Chris and the rest of the alumni for a day of reminiscing and knowledge sharing. The group all studied at NTU, then Trent Polytechnic, 40 years ago, and have gone on to have successful careers holding senior positions within civil engineering, construction and wider sectors. They have also kept in touch since leaving university and are still good friends.
During their visit, they were joined by students for an insightful Q&A panel. Students asked valuable questions about their time and knowledge in the industry as well as their opinions on artificial intelligence and new sustainability initiatives.
They highlighted the importance of being more than academically successful; enhancing transferable skills and ensuring they’re a personable, enthusiastic candidate is vital. The group also said that graduates need to show their passion for civil engineering and be ready to embrace technological advancements - as long as they are prepared to learn, they can grow with the industry.
The alumni also got to tour their old classrooms, library and workshops and were shown new technology used to teach the technical skills needed by civil engineers, and the group reminisced about the more manual methods they were taught as students.
As the Managing Director for Strategic Projects at VolkerFitzpatrick, Chris helped turn this alumni reunion into more than just a catch up with old friends, providing an opportunity for students to learn first-hand from industry professionals.
"The partnership that VolkerFitzpatrick has with NTU provides many of our best graduates across civil engineering, quantity surveying and construction management. The solid grounding NTU provides will be invaluable to today’s students in their careers... without the firm knowledge across civil engineering that NTU provided to me I would not have had the opportunities to lead the construction of the exciting major projects and the VolkerFitzpatrick civil engineering business." - Chris Evans, BSc, C.Eng, FICE (Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers)
NTU thank Chris for joining them on campus and sharing their experience with the next generation of civil engineers.
