Two engineering students are celebrating after completing their courses thanks to sponsorship from timber industry companies.

Having just graduated with a BSc Civil & Timber Engineering – assisted by sponsorship and work placements from Finnforest - Andrew Smart is about to start with the company, under their new name of Metsä Wood UK Ltd, as a graduate engineer.

Andrew will be based at their premises in Boston, Lincolnshire and will be working with Metsä Wood's range of timber-based engineered products, principally related to their correct use and performance within the buildings during and after construction.

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Andrew said: "The sponsorship programme has given me opportunities which I would not have had without the scheme. During work placements, I was able to transfer things I had learned at university into the 'real world', giving me a better insight into the day-to-day business of being a timber engineer. This led to me gaining a graduate position with my sponsor company, Metsä Wood which I’m really looking forward to starting. I would recommend the sponsorship programme to anybody considering a degree in timber engineering."

Student Mark Kirk has also completed a MEng after receiving sponsorship and work placements from Donaldsons Timber Engineering. Mark is currently working within Edinburgh Napier's Institute for Sustainable Construction, where he is involved with R&D and test work aimed at bringing new timber based construction products forward towards commercialisation.

(NE/GK)