Lisa - Summer Student 2025
Lisa Thomson, Summer Student
From a spark ignited at a girls’ engineering event in Glasgow to hands-on experience at our busy and dynamic firm, Lisa Thomson’s journey into civil and structural engineering has been shaped by curiosity, creativity, and a love for graphical communication. Her summer placement offered a deep dive into the real-world workings of the industry—and confirmed that she’s on the right path.
Lisa’s interest in engineering was first piqued during a girls-only STEM event in Glasgow. That experience planted the seed, but it was her enjoyment of graphic communication in school and a formative work experience placement at CASE Shetland that solidified her decision to pursue civil and structural engineering. At CASE we understand that there are many routes into the world of work, and a great way to know if you want to pursue an interest into a career is to have the opportunity to experience what it would be like to be part of a professional team.
“Going through S4 I realised that I liked graph comm a lot… After doing my work experience here, I was sure this was what I wanted to go into.”
Real Projects, Real Impact
During her Summer placement we made sure Lisa had the chance to contribute to a variety of projects including:
A changing room extension
A communications mast
A boat shed
A housing development
Her typical day blended office-based design work with site visits - the team made sure she was out measuring buildings, aiding on structural inspections and learning about how a construction site works both efficiently and safely. Lisa especially appreciated the Monday morning team meetings where everyone shared updates on their projects. “It’s great to hear what everyone’s working on and how things are progressing.” This gave her an invaluable overview of the range of projects CASE tackles and the collaborative approach to problem solving.
One unexpected takeaway? Septic tank drawings aren’t her favourite subject to draw—but every task added to her understanding of the field and we all appreciate her additions to our septic tank library!
Learning & Mentorship
Lisa credits the entire team for making her placement meaningful, but one person stood out: “Alana made the biggest impact. She was always there to help, her desk was right next to mine, and she’s an amazing person and engineer.”
The team dynamic was a highlight for Lisa. She describes the office as close-knit and collaborative: “If anyone needed help, they’d just ask the person they thought would know. Everyone’s easy to get along with and friendly.”
Looking Ahead
Lisa’s advice to future interns? “Just do it—even if you don’t like it, you’ll learn something.” She’s come away with a clearer picture of what goes into preparing plans for contractors and is now leaning toward the increasingly popular route of a gradate apprenticeship, which would allow her to study and gain her qualifications whilst working, and potentially staying in Shetland at the same time.
And Lisa’s dream project to work on? A simple, single-story build on solid, flat ground with an easy-going client. We think Lisa’s nailed every designer and engineer’s dream project!
Lisa’s summer placement has been a journey of discovery, growth, and connection. With her grounded approach and growing skillset, she’s well on her way to building a brilliant career—and we’re delighted she chose to explore her interest at CASE Shetland.
Floortje Matthew