5-minute read
In her own words, Esther Rowland, shares her story. 
I have enjoyed maths from a young age as I found that the definitive nature of maths is really fascinating and helpful for problem solving. When I came to study Physics at GCSE, the mathematical element was initially what piqued my interest and then I learnt how it can be applied to the real world and was keen to learn about it further. I continued to enjoy other subjects such as Music, Religious Studies and English Literature however, I began to view Maths and Physics as essential to the career path I wanted to follow.
In Year 10 I decided that I wanted to take the apprenticeship path towards becoming an engineer after my grandad told me about engineering and how important it is for the future. After GCSEs I went to Sixth Form, studying Maths, Physics and Religious Studies, and my form tutor told me about NPL and their apprenticeship programme, so I applied in January 2021 during my last year of A-Levels. I received the call that I had gotten the apprenticeship role in April 2021 and I started my four-year apprenticeship in September 2021. I am currently in my last few months of the apprenticeship, having just completed the last parts of coursework for my HNC in Mechanical Engineering and working towards my End Point Assessment, as well as the interview for a full-time engineering role at NPL.
I machine parts for the scientists at NPL so an average day for me is in the manufacturing workshop. I could be working on the manual lathes, milling machines or on the CNC machines, which are versatile tools capable of performing highly precise machining processes, depending on the job I am given. The CNCs are programmed either on the machine or on my laptop using CAD/CAM so part of the day is also spent programming the part(s). I will also carry out an inspection on the part before handing it over to be dispatched, so that I ensure the dimensions are all correct. During the last few months of being an apprentice, I will be expanding my knowledge and skill by learning how to operate the Mazak CNC mill, which is used for high accuracy machining. This is used as a natural progression from XYZ’s CNC mill in the workshop, which I learnt to operate at the beginning of my third year.
As part of the apprenticeship, my first year was spent completely at college, building my foundation knowledge of manual machines, such as lathes and milling machines. For the past three years, I have been attending college one day per week, studying a variety of subjects such as Engineering Maths, Engineering Science, Health and Safety, Mechanical Principles, Materials and Engineering Design. During this time, I have also worked on college projects, with the most recent being an HNC-level project centring around the theme of ‘sustainability’. I was able to develop my project at work as well as college, which allowed me to carry out manufacturing and testing for the project. It also allowed me to showcase my capability to my colleagues as they were invested in the outcome of my project, which was a success.
I found out about women taking on important engineering roles in World War II when I was in Year 8 or 9 and this was a big inspiration for me. I had a lot of encouragement from close family members, who were surprised at my interest in engineering but ultimately wanted me to pursue a career I would enjoy. However, I did not always want to be an engineer – I initially wanted to be involved in musical theatre because of my love of music and storytelling. I attended stage school from six years old until I was about fourteen so a large part of my life has been about my love of the performing arts, which influenced my choosing of Music at GCSE. Ultimately, I decided to pursue engineering as I saw this as the more stable career path and it had more potential for intellectual development. I can identify some overlap between the two different career paths as there is a lot of interaction with customers/audience and communication is a key part of both. I enjoy making different components at work using the machining processes I have learnt, so I am happy with the path that I chose, whilst still having a big appreciation for musical theatre outside of work.
I have definitely had doubts about whether I would make it to this point. I felt as though I did not have enough experience to be good enough for this position, even though I applied straight from Sixth Form. I also am the first in my family to pursue engineering and so I felt that I did not have the ‘right’ background. However, I was determined not to dissuade myself from trying. When it came round to my interviews, I managed to convey my experience and knowledge and show how keen I am about engineering.
The main barrier I have come up against is my own self-doubt and lack of confidence when beginning in engineering. One of my colleagues could identify this and encouraged me to attend a webinar which was centred around imposter syndrome and how to overcome the negative thoughts that accompany this. It was really helpful to highlight why I felt that way, what I realised was that it came down to a fear of being a ‘diversity hire’ and not truly being the best selection for the job. However, by the end of the webinar, I was able to create a list of my achievements that were based on merit. This really helped me acknowledge how well suited I am to being an engineer.
As part of the engineering apprenticeship, I also have regular review meetings with my manager and my mentor. The feedback I have received over the course of my apprenticeship has been fair and constructive, but also overwhelmingly positive with regards to my progress. This has also been a great way of seeing that others believe that I am suited to my role and that my lack of confidence is not a reflection on the work that I have done.
Other obstacles I have encountered are more physical, such as my physical strength, although this has improved as I have applied myself to my role. I also have issues with my height as there are some machines and working areas which were designed with taller individuals in mind. However, there have been accommodations made so that I can progress with work without as much hindrance. For instance, I often struggled to reach the handle for lowering the covering down at the back of the guillotine. Another colleague made a braided cord which I could use to pull down on to lower the cover. Although it was a small adjustment, it improved accessibility for me and made it safer for me to operate the guillotine. I also always feel comfortable to ask another colleague to help with manual lifting if I am struggling, and there are always mechanical aids that I can use for lifting if needed.
In terms of advice that I would give anyone who is experiencing feelings of self-doubt or a lack of confidence, always remember that you were chosen by people who are very experienced in their field and they have seen your potential and/or past experience and believed you would be a good fit for this role. Therefore, it is better to believe them when they give good feedback and want you to excel. Also, making a list of your achievements is a great way to reflect on how you got to this stage and show you how capable you are.
The information contained on the above text is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional or medical advice. All content, including text, images and information, is for general information purposes only and NPL does not warrant nor represent that it is intended or is suitable for a specific purpose.