If someone told me 10 years ago I would be working for Rolls Royce, I would have asked them, why would I want to work in a dirty garage fixing expensive cars?
In year 10 I realised I genuinely loved engineering. I enjoyed learning about the different machining processes such as turning and milling and the fact that I was able to apply some of these techniques to basically manufacture my coursework. I remember engineering was one of the subjects I always looked forward to because it was fun, practical and contained maths and physics that actually made sense to me. Through my passion and hard work in engineering I won Outstanding BTEC Engineering Student in 2013.
In year 11, my engineering teacher advertised the amazing apprenticeships available, which were rarely encouraged in my school.
Initially, an apprenticeship was not an option for my family, it was in my parents’ interest that I follow the ‘traditional route’ to higher education. Eventually after months of research and convincing my family, I decided to undertake an apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce in 2013.
I completed my apprenticeship in 2016 and secured my first job in Rolls-Royce Hucknall as the Trent 700 component owner and a computer aided process planner (CAPP) alongside studying for my Mechanical Engineering Degree; I graduated in 2017.
I am now working as a Repair Capability Manufacturing Engineer in Rolls-Royce Engine Overhaul Services, based in Derby. This role consists of developing and implementing methods that can be used to repair various components from a jet engine. The main thing I enjoy is the fact that I can go into work and see various jet engines being stripped and assembled ready to dispatch to the customer; this is just simply mind blowing. Through this role I am gaining a real understanding of Rolls-Royce as a business and its strategy, I believe to be a well-rounded engineer to be able to make decisions you must understand the business and the aftersales market, I purposely positioned myself in this role as it is a stepping stone in my career to eventually become a Manufacturing Engineering Executive in Rolls-Royce as you need broader understanding of the business as a whole.