Utopi Intern Q&A

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is David Trower. I’m studying Geography at the University of Glasgow, and I’ve spent the past 11 weeks interning at Utopi over the summer break.

2. What does a typical day or week look like for you here?

No two weeks were the same, and that’s what I liked about it. Some weeks I’d get the train into the office for 9am, Monday to Friday, working and learning alongside a different department each time. Others meant an early train south to Leeds, Liverpool or London to carry out surveys. That mix meant I got to understand how the operations actually fit together, and follow projects through from the first survey to install.

3. What have you been working on during your time at Utopi?

During my time here I’ve had the chance to explore multiple avenues. Primarily, I worked under the Head of Presales, Frances McLean capturing survey data during visits to client assets. That meant collaborating closely with our Impact Team and bringing what we found back into the office, so that proposals are built around the building in front of us. Every asset is different, and it was a great opportunity to be involved in capturing that detail right up front.

I also supported live client rollouts and helped lay the groundwork for new assets coming onto The Utopi Platform. Alongside that, I produced updated product sheets, design guides and installation guides to support the work of the product team.

My work at Utopi has been broad, which I believe has given me a deeper understanding and appreciation of the company’s operations and aspirations as a whole.

4. What’s been your favourite part of the internship so far?

My favourite part of the internship has been the travelling. Of course it was a lot of work, and it isn’t easy jumping from one city to the next, but the chance to see new places while understanding how each building operates differently has really helped bring the work to life for me. One asset might be brand new, the next older stock that’s been through a couple of refits, and the platform adapts across these different assets. Being able to visit an asset and view it not as a name on a spreadsheet but as a real piece of infrastructure gave me an appreciation for the work that goes on at every stage of the pipeline. On top of that, being able to list off the new people I’ve met and places I’ve seen has been great.

5. Has anything surprised you about working at Utopi?

Just the amount that happens in such a short space of time. Even within my time here it’s been great to see so many new projects begin, new assets coming online in new countries, and new features being added to the platform.

It’s nice because it feels like there’s lots of room for collaboration between departments and teams in a way that would be less joined-up in a large organisation. Also just the amount of impact a single person can have. New ideas can go a long way, and that’s encouraging to see as a young person.

6. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned?

I’ve gained a lot of technical knowledge about how different buildings are heated and cooled: The ins and outs of electric panel heaters, HVAC systems, wet heaters, fuse boxes, even water pipes and wet risers. What I found most interesting was learning that hands-on, then seeing the software side that reads it all.

That combination is the thing that stuck with me. Devices in a building on their own don’t get you anywhere. It’s The Utopi Platform turning what they capture into something an operator or an asset manager can actually act on that makes the difference, and it was fascinating to see that in action.

Perhaps most importantly, it’s given me confidence in a professional work environment. Social skills, risk management, presentation skills and managing workloads are so valuable at the beginning of a career, and this internship has given me more than I could have predicted.

7. Any standout moment or project you’re proud of?

A key project for me came in my final few weeks, surveying two large assets for an upcoming rollout. I was able to use what I had learned across prior weeks to record how four different systems in each building were set up, so the install could be designed around them. Between two of us, we covered 17 floors in less than two days, taking in air conditioning, water pipes, radiators and electrical boxes.

We analysed and presented our findings back in the office, and they fed directly into how the rollout was designed for those buildings. It felt great to have something I made be so instrumental, and it showed me how everyone’s input can matter in big projects.

8. Has Utopi’s mission resonated with you, or changed how you think about the built environment?

As a student in the School of Earth and Geographical Sciences, environmental consciousness is always at the top of my mind. This year in particular I’ve been taking honours classes all related to the urban environment, learning the flows and processes that maintain the urban landscape. My dissertation focuses on the regeneration of post-industrial land uses around the Clydeside, so for me, how we make, rebuild and maintain buildings aligns closely with Utopi’s goals and with this sector as a whole.

What I was pleased to see in action was the commercial and environmental cases pull in the same direction rather than against each other. Better performing buildings cost less to run and are worth more, and that reframed how I think about sustainability in the built environment. This internship has given me practical knowledge that has bolstered my classroom learning in more ways than I imagined.

9. What would you say to someone considering interning at Utopi?

Go for it and apply. The team are all so friendly and welcoming, the office is a great workspace and there’s lots to learn. If you’re a student or young professional wanting to add to your CV and gain some hands-on work experience, then it’s a great place to start. The size of the company and the nature of the industry mean the work is always new and different, so there’s plenty of room to find your place.