employer cover photo
employer logo

There is only so much cost cutting you can do - Graduate Engineer Atkins Employee Review

2.0
Aug 20, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The company is flexible with regards to working from home and/or different offices. You can buy up to 15 days annual leave or sell up to 5 days from your standard allocation of 25. Colleagues and direct managers generally have a relaxed attitude and are respectful towards other members of staff. The company has a broad base, and if you find yourself in the right business area, the opportunity for interesting and varied work is good.

Cons

Although the starting salaries for graduate engineers are roughly industry average, they go nowhere (expect 2-3% per year maximum for the duration of the 3 year scheme). Which after inflation means practically nothing. You could be getting 5-10% elsewhere doing the same job. Also do not expect a decent raise when promoted. Additionally the pay review and bonus system is made very unclear. My work was dull and repetitive, and pretty much all of it for the same client, as most of my former managers had no idea about how to develop new revenue streams. However I do know of graduates in other business areas gaining some good international experience. Training budget is too low or not allocated fairly. Getting even inexpensive (£150) training approved by line management is very difficult, with 'on-the-job' training preffered. Technical work is increasingly being outsourced to India, meaning learning opportunities for junior engineers and apprentice technicians are being reduced. 'Personal' Development amounts to choosing objectives from a set list of company objectives, usually involving lots of corporate buzzwords. Although colleagues are not unpleasant, the working environment is pretty stale and corporate, with most people keeping to themselves.

Explore other reviews about Atkins

5.0
Oct 13, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

A lot of work to be done Many opportunities to try different things

Cons

Advancement can be hard Working alongside underperformers

2.0
Nov 17, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Job and a paycheck but in a house of cards.

Cons

Wow, be careful! Atkins North America was acquired when Atkins in London bought a notorious US engineering based in Florida, PBS&J (Post, Buckley, Shuh and Jernigan). I didn't do enough research when hired and found out too late I was working for a company that has been prosecuted multiple times for serious illegalities, and some of the executives who participated but escaped prosecution are still there! PBS&J has been indicted for bribing government officials, illegal campaign contributions, and was a private company put on the chopping blocks to sell for being so poorly managed when several of the employees embezzled millions upon millions of dollars. As recent as 2016 the company was struggling financially because of legal costs and fines to the extent the focus became finishing out existing contracts rather than procuring new ones...an indicator they do not want new business and are likely to chop off the US engineering wing and spin those employees out to another company. Do your research before accepting a job there, the good old boy network that didn't previously get caught or prosecuted in the illegalities is still working there, and they haven't changed much in being secretive about what they are doing!! Get everything in writing as they are all about the bait and switch.

11
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All