David Terry

What was your route to joining Atkins?

In 2004 I was offered work placement at Atkins and was then sponsored during my final year at university. After completing my degree I was offered a permanent position.

When did you join Atkins full-time?

On 11 September 2006 I accepted a competitive job offer for a position in the Bristol office.

What motivated you to join Atkins?

I knew I would have the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects in the UK and overseas.

Which team do you work in?

I’m in the acoustics, noise and vibration team within our environment business.

Do you have any professional accreditations?

I’m a registered sound insulation tester with the Institute of Acoustics and the Association of Noise Consultants.

What projects have you worked on?

I’ve worked on environmental noise monitoring, office/school design and industrial noise prediction. Projects include Samsung drill ship and the M25 motorway widening in the UK.

What are you currently working on?

I have just returned from the United Arab Emirates where I undertook a noise verification survey at a gas processing plant.

What did this involve?

I measured the noise emitted by recently installed process equipment and identified equipment that was too noisy. Measures designed to protect operators from dangerous noise levels will be recommended were necessary.

What was memorable about it?

Climbing a 30ft steel structure to measure noise from air coolers offered expansive views over the desert. It was a great experience.

What’s the most technically challenging project you’ve worked on?

Predicting the noise levels on a large drill ship. I had to identify the dominant source of noise where there were numerous sources in each area and provide appropriate control advice.

How has your career developed at Atkins to date?

I started by following instruction from others and now I’m more technically competent and independent, I write bids and manage small projects.

How were you supported through this?

I am part of a relatively small but very friendly and supportive team and I can turn to my colleagues for help with any sort of problem or question.

How do acousticians at Atkins make a difference?

Acousticians work in multidisciplinary design teams to ensure the acoustics of buildings enrich the experience of the end user.

Can you give an example?

A client suffered from excessive office noise levels that affected their staff’s ability to work, communicate and feel comfortable. Our simple design solution made a big difference to their daily lives.

How would you describe the culture at Atkins?

There’s a strong work ethic here. It’s a balance between doing the things we do best and encouraging innovation.

How would you describe your own team?

I'd describe my team as friendly and eccentric.

How do you describe what you do to friends and family?

I tell them that I assess the impact noise and vibration can have on people and the environment.