Developing Future Engineering Talent

This summer, JDR welcomed two Engineering students from Durham University to its Hartlepool facility for a two-week work experience programme. Working alongside engineers across the Project Engineering, Analysis Engineering and Product Development teams, they gained first-hand experience of offshore cable engineering, advanced manufacturing and product validation while contributing to real engineering activities.

During the placement, the students experienced every stage of the engineering process—from analysis engineering and hardware design to manufacturing and product inspection — providing valuable insight into how complex subsea cable systems are developed and delivered for offshore energy projects.

Reflecting on the experience, Oliver said:

"It was particularly rewarding to see how the engineering principles from my university project are applied in industry and to gain a greater appreciation of the work involved in delivering the subsea cable systems that are essential to the continued growth of offshore wind."

Isaac highlighted the value of working across multiple engineering disciplines:

"It has been a fantastic opportunity to see how different engineering disciplines come together throughout the lifecycle of offshore cable projects."

Providing opportunities like these reflects JDR's long-term commitment to developing engineering talent and supporting the future of UK manufacturing. This commitment is further reinforced by the company's recent membership of Make UK, demonstrating JDR's support for strengthening manufacturing capability, developing engineering skills and investing in the next generation of industry professionals.