What subjects did you excel at in school?
GR: I certainly didn’t excel in any subject by national standards – instead sport tended to be my focus! However I always felt ahead while working in design, especially CAD (computer aided design) work. It was getting into working in 3D that started me off on my path of studying to be a design engineer.
CM: I really enjoyed art, design, maths and science through my school years, and I studied the last three for A-level [English school exams taken at the age of 18]. I really enjoyed my three A-level subjects and feel like they provided me with good skills and experience for the career I wanted to pursue.
Have you always wanted to pursue a career in engineering?
CM: After GCSE [English school exams taken at the age of 16] I had no idea what I wanted to be. At first I chose my three A-level subjects in hope of becoming an architect, but after studying them for a while I decided engineering was the way to go.
GR: Not really. Although when I look back at everything that I fancied seeing myself doing since childhood – architect, biochemist and cartographer – they all have a running theme of being science-based and focused on problem solving.
Why did you decide to do an apprenticeship when you finished high school rather than study full time at university?
CM: I didn’t like the sound of university as it felt like it would just be more schooling. I much preferred the idea of getting out in the world and earning a wage. At the same time, I also wanted to acquire more qualifications, so the apprenticeship scheme seemed perfect. I could work four days a week earning money while studying for a Foundation degree at the same time. It also means I haven’t worked up lots of debt, which I would have done at university.
GR: By entering the workplace through an apprenticeship I’ve been able to earn a salary and become more independent. The opportunity to study while working also appealed to me because of the challenges involved in managing time and expectations – and not accumulating an ever-increasing amount of student debt!
What are the most challenging aspects about your job?
GR: Keeping on top of the numerous acronyms, abbreviations and terminology that seasoned engineers assume you know, then working out what job you’re actually being asked to do!
CM: The most challenging thing so far has been trying to balance college work with my job. But I was actually expecting the apprenticeship to more time-consuming that it has turned out to be. If you have a good structure and focus so you’re as productive as possible on your current task then you’ll be okay. The work we do in the office can be challenging at times but there’s always a lot of support and you can ask for advice from anyone there.
What are the most enjoyable aspects of your job?
GR: I enjoy working in a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere, with friendly people who are always willing to help. Atkins is pretty flexible about the hours you work, which gives me a huge amount of choice about how I spend my week. That really helps me manage the demands of assignments and exams.
CM: The most enjoyable thing about working for a company like Atkins is that you know the work you’re doing makes a huge impact on the world, and that the work is recognised worldwide. Working as part of a team of highly-qualified engineers makes it feel like a real achievement.
Where do you expect to be in 10 years?
GR: Having successfully completed my apprenticeship, I hope to be working on international design engineering projects around the world.
CM: There are so many different opportunities within Atkins that I wouldn’t even venture a guess as to what division or projects I’ll be working on in 10 years’ time. I’ll hopefully have a full degree in Mechanical Engineering and I would like be on my way to being (if not already!) a chartered engineer.
Source: Flight International
