Inside the Elgin Internship Experience: Insights from Our Summer Interns

As Elgin's summer internship programme wraps up, we had the opportunity to sit down with our three talented and ambitious interns who have just completed their time with us and have brought fresh perspectives and energy to our projects and offices over the past few months. Grace McElroy recently completed her bachelor's degree in chemistry and is now pursuing a master's in sustainable energy and entrepreneurship. Conor O'Kelly , a mechanical and manufacturing engineering student at DCU, is about to enter his third year. Patrick Muldoon is studying engineering at the University of Sheffield and preparing for his second year.

In this interview, we explore their experiences at Elgin, how the internship has shaped their professional development, and the valuable lessons they've learned along the way.

What was your favourite project or task during your internship at Elgin, and what did you learn from it?

Grace

While at Elgin, I helped the Pre-Con team move their project tracking from Excel to Elgin's internal software, Power Plan. I really enjoyed that process! I learned about the requirements for obtaining grid, legal and planning to get on site to build a project, as well as some of the work that the Development Team and ECM do after a project falls on Pre-Con's desk. I also learned about the process of project implementation and the different levels of reporting within a business, the people you work with, the people you hire, and things like that.

Conor

I've been working a lot on the German projects, which are still in the very early stages. It's a pretty new team in the company. So, I've been doing a lot of site searching and general research for the German side of things. It has been great getting to see the very early stages of projects and how they originate - I feel very lucky!

Patrick

I've been doing a lot of site searching and research, and I was fortunate to have one of the sites I found to be feasible and upgraded to be used for a project. I started by exploring various fields, and after identifying this particular site, I was able to see it through from the initial feasibility stage all the way to its development into a full project. This experience has given me a lot of exposure, including interactions with landowners, lawyers, and estate agents, which has been really valuable.

How did the internship at Elgin help you grow professionally or personally?

Grace

For me, my internship taught me a lot about the office dynamic from day to day of organising meetings and the importance of file management all the way to why it's important to have a strong company culture and why, as someone working at the company, it's important to participate in that culture.

It also helped me grow personally by improving my confidence. I was really nervous on my first day, but now I feel like I can contribute to meetings, and I'm not afraid to speak during meetings.

Conor

Being exposed to a positive workplace has been incredibly beneficial for me, and my experience at Elgin has shown me what a good workplace should look like. I have learned how to effectively collaborate with colleagues and how to navigate the challenges that come with professional settings.

Patrick

Yeah, same as me. I hadn't had any corporate experience, so I felt that I was learning something new each day. I think professionally, it enhanced my project management skills quite a bit and will help me with my projects at university; I think I've got a much better idea of how to deal with data and time management.

And then personally, my communication skills have grown significantly. For example, when starting a new project, I've learned the importance of collaborating with different teams, and I've gained more confidence in reaching out to other people.

What was the most surprising thing you discovered about working at Elgin?

Grace

The most surprising thing for me was just how many layers there are to the development process. It doesn't just stop with planning. I think working in the Pre-Con team was the best place to learn this - the projects are far more complicated than I realised.

Conor

The energy trading aspect was totally new to me. I had an opportunity to learn a little from the team about how you buy and sell energy, and I found it fascinating. It was just so I'd never really thought about it!

Patrick

I guess for me, as I previously mentioned, I hadn't been in a professional office setting before, so on my first day, I was quite nervous and worried about how strict everything would be.

I was pleasantly surprised by how relaxed the environment is. I felt that at Elgin, you have the perfect combination of socialising and working. People will be chatting away, having a chat and a laugh, while also working hard and getting their tasks done.

How did the support and mentorship from your team impact your experience?

Grace

My manager, Susan, was amazing. She brought me to meetings across a whole range of departments, which allowed me to see how the business functions at different levels and improve my communication skills in an office environment. She also encouraged me to be actively involved in many different projects and made my participation feel valuable.

Then, just as a whole, the Pre-Con team were absolutely amazing. They created a really supportive environment, welcoming every question I had and creating lots of opportunities for me to learn and grow professionally.

Conor

Everybody was so helpful. There was never really a time when, if I had a question, I couldn't just ask anyone. Everyone was very friendly and approachable, which impacted my experience and helped me learn a lot during my time here.

Patrick

At the start, I was worried about asking people questions. I didn't want to hassle anyone when they were so busy. But after the first few days, I realised everyone was so supportive and made time for me.

A lot of the team members had degrees similar to mine and were very helpful in sharing academic and career advice, which I really appreciated.

What advice would you give to future interns at Elgin?

Grace

Say yes to as many things as possible and also meet as many people as possible. Just set up meetings to ask them about their job and what they do. Chatting to people will teach you so much about the business and the industry you want to be in. It will also teach you how to work with people and help you discover what type of work you want to do after graduation.

I found that my internship gave me great insight into the world of work without the pressure to do it right 100% of the time. I think it's really important not to be afraid to make mistakes and just to go for it.

Conor

My advice would be to get involved with as many different teams and on as many projects as you can. I wish I had started doing this earlier in my internship. Engaging with various teams and projects will broaden your skills and give you a better understanding of how different parts of the business work.

Patrick

Yeah, I'd say the same as both. I think it's really important to actively try and get involved. Early on, like Connor mentioned, I wasn’t as proactive in putting myself out there. But as the internship progressed, I made more of an effort to get involved in various projects, which made a big difference.

If you're interested in gaining hands-on experience with a dynamic team, we encourage you to apply for Elgin's internship programme.

To learn more and apply, please email: [email protected]