What are you doing now?
I run my own company designing and making custom notebooks. Working for myself allows me the freedom to travel more and work around other commitments. Also, my earning potential is not limited by someone else so I am the ultimate beneficiary of the hard work I put in.
After studying Engineering at A Level I moved to Worcester to start an apprenticeship with National Grid Gas, before moving back to Yorkshire after my first year.
Determined not to give up I continued my apprenticeship working for a different company, which gave me skills in turning, milling and welding, to name a few.
Whilst studying for my first year one of my college tutors recognised my skills and determination and offered me two additional apprenticeships to run alongside my Engineering one – so not only have I completed an Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering but also one in Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Motor Cycle Maintenance.
The latter gave me the opportunity to building motorbikes from scratch, where my tutor and I became International Champions for ‘Best Bike in Show’ across multiple event in Europe, including the Carole Nash Bike Show.
After that I continued my career in Engineering at Cirteq in Glusburn, before starting my company after 14 years of Engineering practice.
What advice would you give your 17-year-old self?
Don’t listen to someone telling you that you can’t do something because you are a girl – it still happens a lot in Engineering.
I’d also say take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way as you never know what might come of it, surround yourself with good people and respect yourself!
What are you most proud of?
I’ve been able to live on my own from 18-years-old thanks to earning while learning, and became International Bike Building Champion at the age of 21.
I’m proud of developing the confidence I lacked at school and standing up to bullying behaviour in the workplace – the Engineering sector still has a long way to catch up to being equal.
