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The last two weeks in Houston were extremely busy, yet enjoyable and as I now sit writing this blog listening to the rain battering of my window in Glasgow I can’t help but wish I was back in Texas. Of course being back in Scotland has some perks but the weather is certainly not one of them.

During my last two weeks with the Wood Group I worked with both Valerie Mathieu Head of Business Development and Bill Cochrane Managing Director of ODL a Wood Group company. The project I was working on looked at the introduction of intrinsically safe equipment to be used by workers on oil platforms. It has been an interesting project as I have been looking at the newest and safest technologies available to deliver operating procedures and training to offshore workers. I will be curious to see how this develops in the future.

Working in Business Development gave me the greatest exposure to the oil and gas industry and during my time in this department I learned a great deal. Being given the opportunity to attend meetings with Valerie has given me a greater understating of how the business operates something that you simply cannot be taught at university.

Socially the last few weeks were as frantic as ever I along with some interns went skydiving, shooting (we were in Texas after all), we also went to NASA, something I feel Scott was mildly excited about. We were given a VIP tour which allowed us to see a number of areas that we would not normally of being allowed into and it was really amazing, I’d like to thank Val for arranging another fantastic day out.

During my last week of work I took part in an oil industry/Wood Group quiz. I would just like to thank the quizmaster Anand for ignoring his work obligations and taking part everyday, although I’m not sure John Lee shared my views on this. I still await the steward’s enquiry about the final result.

I guess now it’s time for the thank you, first an foremost I’d like to thank John Lee and Derek Blackwood the two Global Scots for being involved with the Saltire foundation and also for giving myself and the fellow interns the chance to go and gain the experiences we have this summer, this was a once in a lifetime chance and for that I am truly grateful. I’d also like to thank everyone I met and worked with as they all contributed to such an unbelievable experience, From the moment Maribel met the group as we arrived at our apartments to the final day when the office had lunch for us to say farewell to everyone, I can honestly say everyone was unbelievably kind and I have gained so much from this experience.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the Saltire foundation for making this internship happen, I would never have been able to secure an internship like this had it not been for the foundation. I will be more than willing to share my experiences in the future to ensure that other interns get the same out of the experience that I did.

Last but not least I’d like to thank my fellow interns John (the sergeant) Dave (the rave) Scott (Big bird), Kirsty and Jen I had an amazing time and you all played a part in that.

Until next time,

ANTON.