Jamie Santiago

 
“During my internship as a Junior Construction Manager, I had the opportunity to experience a wide variety of projects, both in the office and across multiple data centre sites. My first weeks were spent at the Reading office, where I was introduced to the team and gained a grounding in construction contracts, project planning, and document control.

I then rotated through several data centre sites in and around Greater London including in Slough, West Ham, Harlow, Hayes and North London, where I was exposed to complex mechanical and electrical systems, commissioning processes, and live testing. Highlights included assisting with client reports, witnessing fire system testing, and learning directly from experienced MiCiM staff about common technical issues and solutions. I also supported with tasks such as producing logistics plan, construction phase planning (CPP), updating schematic drawings, tracking progress using Openspace AI and contributing to risk registers and client reports.

A major part of my internship involved working on data hall design. I carried out research into generator fuel types, cooling systems, electrical supply and raised floor design, and applied this knowledge in calculations of heat loads, pressurisation, and cooling performance etc. Towards the end of my placement, I was able to finalise and present my ideas to my colleagues, which tied together much of what I had learned.

What I particularly enjoyed was the balance of technical exposure and hands-on involvement. Whether it was moving floor protection with the site team, sitting in on programme meetings, or discussing fire safety systems with specialists, I was always learning something new. I also valued the chance to build relationships with experienced professionals across different disciplines, who gave me practical advice and guidance throughout.

Overall, the internship has been a fantastic opportunity to understand how projects are delivered from design through to commissioning especially for data centres. It has expanded my knowledge of construction management and data centre systems and reinforced my ambition to develop a career in this field.”

Elise Durrant

 
“This summer I had the opportunity to complete a 10-week internship with MiCiM as a Junior Project Manager, where I gained first-hand experience in the delivery of mission-critical data centres. The placement was varied and engaging, offering me a balance of technical learning and practical project management exposure.

Over the course of the internship, I visited five different projects: two where I was based for three weeks each, one where I spent a week observing some of the commissioning phase, and several other shorter visits to various sites. This variety gave me an excellent overview into the different stages of project delivery and the breadth of services MiCiM provide.

At the first site I was based at, a smaller 380kW project, I built knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems – an area I had limited experience in coming from an architectural background. The scale of the project, combined with the support of a friendly and approachable team, made it an ideal environment to understand these systems and learn about key design considerations in data centres.

The second site, a much larger project where I spent three weeks, shifted the focus towards project management. Here I gained a clear understanding of the responsibilities of a project manager, and was trusted with tasks such as preparing client update reports, recording meeting minutes, and I compiled and helped present a design comparison to the client, highlighting the differences between the base design and the requested fit-out, which was later used to inform decision-making and instruct subcontractors.

Alongside site work, I contributed to internal improvements by creating templates that were designed to help with project organisation, so that project managers could save time creating their own documents. I was also tasked with a technical project where I designed a 4MW data hall, which I presented to members of the team – a valuable opportunity to apply the technical knowledge I had gained over my placement.

The most rewarding aspect of this internship was working alongside such experienced professionals. The MiCiM team were generous with their time, providing guidance, answering questions, and helping me build both confidence and practical skills. The collaborative and supportive culture made the experience not only educational but genuinely enjoyable.

Overall, this internship has been an incredibly valuable step in my career development. I am finishing these ten weeks with a strong understanding of everything that goes into delivering data centre projects, as well as confirming my ambition to pursue a career in project management. I am very grateful to MiCiM for creating such a supportive environment and for giving me the opportunity to contribute meaningfully.”