Real people

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Rachel

I took the phrase ‘like a kid in a candy store’ when I was a student literally and I now work as Process Development Manager for Cadbury. I spend a lot of time in the factory and the company’s pilot plant, and get to enjoy tasting new chocolates before anyone else does!

Wanting a job where I could apply science and see a practical outcome, I completed a degree in chemical engineering, which gave good grounding in logical thinking, basic scientific and engineering principles and an excellent platform to choose from a wide variety of careers.

Now at Cadbury for the past five years, I develop the processes for making new confectionery products and optimise existing ones. I enjoy the wide range of products with which I work and have the opportunity to pursue new ideas. I have no regrets about my choice of career or company. But I worked hard to get where I am – the advice I would give to others is what I have followed myself: work hard to get good exam results, try and get some work experience and pursue activities not related to your subject where you can demonstrate other skills, such as influencing and leadership.

To decide if a career is right for you make a list of all the things you enjoy doing or would want from a career (e.g. travel, money, status, work life balance etc.) and then talk to people pursuing this career to see how it meets your expectations.

Now I have the simplest but most rewarding opportunity to see people buy and enjoy the products I have worked on.

Edwin

Born in Malawi, I moved to the UK in the 80s, went to school in Wiltshire and grew up near Boscome Down airbase. After doing work experience with the RAF training school in fast jets maintenance and crews, I wanted to become an aircraft technician and travel the world fixing aircraft. I discovered that if I went to my local college and did a BTEC National Diploma (2 years) in Engineering I could start working at Boscome Down at a higher position than as an apprentice after passing my GCSEs. Then, I went to The University of Bath and did a Bachelors in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

After university my interest in the military left me, but I still wanted to travel, so I spent 2000 to 2002 working for an Oil Exploration company in Southern Nigeria. Back at home, I joined a Chartered Engineer training scheme on the London Underground, during which time I was seconded to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and by the end was a Project Engineer and Acting Project Manager responsible for a budget of £3.1 million. In December 2006 I became a Chartered Engineer, and in early 2007 I joined Network Rail, where I became a Signalling Project Engineer. In May 2008, I joined Mace, an Engineering Consultancy and started work on one of their flagship projects: the Shard of Glass at London Bridge (soon to be the tallest building in Western Europe).

In the future, I am working towards registration as an International Professional Engineer (IntPE) for which I hope to apply next summer. I am also hoping to be taking some exams next year to become a fully qualified Project Manager.

For more about the international registers see: www.engc.org.uk/international/about_international_register.aspx

Thomas

I am a senior engineer and have been working for Arup since 2002 where I specialise in renewable energy services and energy service companies (ESCos) working within Arup’s multi-disciplinary building engineering arm. Opportunities that come with working for Arup include co-ordinating a Communities and Local Government (CLG)-commissioned project with the UK Green Buildings Council to aid in setting a trajectory to zero carbon in new nondomestic buildings, similar to that set for homes.

When I left sixth form, I wanted better A levels so I worked hard during a gap year and secured a place at the University of Nottingham where I went on to get a 2-1 in Environmental Engineering and Resource Management. I sent many letters to secure summer jobs relevant to what I wanted to do and finally secured a job at Arup.

Now, it has all been worth it. I work in many energy engineering tasks including energy planning policy, demand mapping, renewable energy feasibility consulting and infrastructure services.

I work with architects and engineers in multi-discipline teams and have gained knowledge and skills in building services engineering through leading an engineering discipline on projects through construction.

All this has led to me being nominated as a ‘young engineer to watch’ too. I originally wanted to make a difference and reduce the impacts of buildings on climate change. Now I feel that my role is rewarding and that I can make a difference.

Andy

I am the director of Sim Energy Ltd, an environmental consultancy. As well as running the company, I specialise in providing energy efficiency solutions, especially with a sight on the new building regulations being integrated into the industry at the present time.

I began work as an electrical engineering apprentice and gradually found myself being involved in more general building services areas but then becoming more specifically involved in the science of engineering, especially around statistics. This was of much use to me when I became self-employed and could apply those maths skills to various areas of work.

I have now found an area of work within which I would happily progress for the rest of my life. Furthermore, being self-employed gives me the flexibility and freedom to enjoy the things I do out of work.

Energy and the environment are becoming very high priorities in the boardrooms of more and more companies and associations, and keeping up-to-date with news and information becomes an interesting challenge. My advice to those who are thinking of getting involved in engineering or in the environment sector is to identify a professional institution and make the most of what they can offer. Groups like CIBSE, IMechE etc. provide valuable technical material, CPD routes and a link into many useful avenues.

See www.cibse.org and www.imeche.org.uk for more information about these organisations.