Case studies

Case Study

After leaving school, Ellie started a traineeship with Airco, delivered through the Airco Centre of Excellence. She is now working with the company as an apprentice, gaining work experience alongside studying for a Level 2 qualification in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.

My mum has an interior design business and, growing up, I’d spend a lot of time at her workshop, helping her make curtains, using machines and overlockers. I think that’s where my passion for making and fixing things started, so it was only natural for me to choose a career that was ‘hands on’.

I heard about the traineeship at Airco and thought it would be perfect, as it would provide me with a stepping stone to an apprenticeship. I built both practical skills and knowledge in not just air conditioning and refrigeration, but also electrics, customer service, and health and safety.

Working in engineering gives me variety. I get to travel across the country, working on a wide range of projects and meeting different people – no day is the same.

Wages in Case Study manufacturing are 17% higher than the

After her contract at a caravan manufacturer came to an end, national Rachel visited The Hub to learn about job opportunities in manufacturing average and engineering. She used the team’s support to secure a role at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.

The team at The Hub were great. They asked me all about myself and what I enjoyed before running through details of jobs they thought might appeal – out of which my current role, assisting production of turbine blades, really stood out.

They helped me create an online profile with Siemens Gamesa, which you need to apply. I also updated my CV and crafted a cover letter that really made the most of my experience and gave me the best possible chance of getting through to the interview stage.

I was overjoyed when I was invited to an assessment day. I went back to the Hub for assistance with interview techniques which gave me the confidence I needed to fly through the process and achieve my dream job.

With each week that passes, I love my role more and more. It was the learning on the job that first attracted me and now passing on that learning to others is my big motivation for the future. I’ve had a great experience from beginning to end with The Hub.

Case Study

Vicky has always had a strong desire to gain new skills. When she heard about Siemens Gamesa opening a factory in Hull, she jumped at the opportunity to learn a completely unique skillset, just a few miles from her front door.

Since I started working at Siemens Gamesa there has been an amazing increase in the number of women working in the factory. My daughter has started working here on my recommendation; it really does feel like you’re working as part of a big family. Everyone looks out for each other, working as part of a team to hit their targets and see the perfect blade go out of the door.

I’ve always had an interest in manufacturing and at the blade factory there are great opportunities to experience a number of roles. There are roles for women from all backgrounds, with the ability to learn on the job and develop new skills.

I’ve recently had a baby and Siemens Gamesa have been really supportive with me throughout my pregnancy. After I finished my maternity leave, I came back to work in a role within the factory that has allowed me to develop my skills further and continue to extend my knowledge about the process. Women shouldn’t be discouraged from entering a manufacturing or engineering job, by thinking that it wouldn’t be possible to have a family life, because you definitely can!

Case Study

Lewanda works at Airco Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Ltd as an apprentice engineer, maintaining, servicing and installing air-conditioning units, cold rooms and chillers. As she enjoys hands-on work and problem solving, she looked for an apprenticeship in the engineering sector after finishing school. When she came across the eight-month Study Programme at Airco Centre of Excellence, she knew it was the perfect chance for her to begin her career in engineering.

I was always better at practical subjects at school, such as textiles and art, which is why I considered an apprenticeship. The academic route didn’t appeal to me – I wanted to do something hands-on. I enjoy problem solving so I particularly like the jobs I do at Airco that involve investigating and diagnosing faults. Because we carry out work within the plumbing, renewables and electrical sectors, I get to build up my knowledge in different areas.

Myself and other female engineers in the area have been a big part of the WiME initiative and we get involved in regular events to encourage other women to consider engineering. I speak to lots of young women at the point of choosing a career path. So many want to be a model or an actress and never even think about engineer as a potential job role. I think engineering should be pushed as a realistic career option at an earlier age and encouraged throughout school. WiME has given me the opportunity to show young women like me that anyone can be an engineer.

Case Study

Charlotte has been with the Smith & Nephew Hull Research, Technology and Innovation team for a little over two years as a Development Engineer whilst still attending university. She came to Smith & Nephew after two years of her Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering course at the University of Hull, spent 13 months full-time with us then returned to university and has now completed her third year.

As part of her course, Year in Industry with Research and Innovation, Charlotte focused her work on sensors and data in wound care. Making the most of her experience at Smith & Nephew, Charlotte is contributing to critical projects that deliver value to the Company.

“Charlotte has the maturity, vision and focus beyond her years and theoretical status. She isn’t afraid to make her ideas known, be a team-player, and take intelligent risks. There are tangible benefits to the Company when you support development and encourage creativity and collaboration from employees. I can’t wait to see what Charlotte will do throughout her career and I want Smith & Nephew to be a part of that,” says Allan Hunt, Charlotte’s manager and Engineering Programme Manager.

Whilst working with the Company, Charlotte has completed her undergraduate dissertation and was awarded the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) for Best Dissertation Project.

Working as part of the Research & Development team at Smith & Nephew,

I have gained experience in developing and implementing new and innovative ideas to improve patient health. My time in my role has only increased my passion for improving healthcare with engineering and innovation and has given me more drive to push my boundaries, making the most of every opportunity.

Close ties with the University of Hull, including a partnership to create one of the world’s largest Wound Care Research Clusters, combined with a strong recommendation from her professor and a stellar interview landed Charlotte a spot on the team.

Case Study

Claire is the Director of Development at Sauce, a fast-growing software development agency based at the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) in Hull.

When I first became interested in tech, I didn’t know anyone who was involved in the industry. I found it really interesting, so to learn more about it, I gained some formal qualifications at College and then University. Following this, I gained my first role in engineering. Since then, I’ve continued to learn and work hard at what I do. I really enjoy my role and working in tech and engineering. It’s great to know that I am helping to set a positive example for my two daughters.

WiME events provide a great opportunity for me to share my story and hopefully inspire people to consider working in tech-related roles.

It’s an interesting and exciting time to work in tech. The industry is constantly changing as exciting new developments evolve and there’s always something new to learn.

There are so many different roles across the industry and numerous career paths that can be taken. Hull has a thriving tech community that is growing rapidly, and with the significant investment the region has experienced in recent years, there is a fantastic support network and world-class facilities available for anyone to begin a new career.

Case Study

Hannah never found herself attracted to run-of-the-mill jobs and she was working as a grave digger when she first heard about the WiME event in March 2017. Although she loved the hands-on nature of the work, she was ready for a new challenge.

She was really pleased when Swift Group got in touch with her after the event and persuaded her to come on board. She started her machinist role last summer, and is the only woman in a team of eight.

I use specialist tools to craft the sides of Swift’s range of quality caravans and I couldn’t be happier. I really enjoy working shifts and the on-the-job training is fantastic. Swift is a big company so I want to progress within it, learning new skills as I go.

I want to say to other women thinking about finding out more about engineering that they shouldn’t hesitate – you won’t know if it’s for you until you give it a try.

Seeing so many women having rewarding careers in the field makes you realise we’re just as good, we can do anything we set our minds to.

Case Study

I felt like I was ‘Mum’ and not ‘Jo’

After having been out of work for some time due to ill health I had decided it was time for me to start looking for a job. Having worked all of my life I had found time off had badly affected my confidence.

I felt that I was ‘Mum’ and not ‘Jo’.

I noticed an event about Women into Manufacturing and Engineering and thought I would go. I was initially quite daunted by such a big event but found everybody to be really friendly.

I met Helga and Michelle from National Careers Service. We had a long talk about my background and experience, which included my strengths and how I was feeling generally about returning to work.

I realised that I had always been very confident in the past with an excellent track record as a worker and this started to make me feel better. I was also very nervous about using computers and Helga showed me how to use job search websites. In the past I had relied on my son to organise my mobile phone but talking with Helga encouraged me to get him to actively show me how to do things on it, including job searching. Helga also arranged for me to meet with a National Careers Service adviser who very efficiently sorted out a more up-to-date CV and was very encouraging about my employability. Within two weeks, thanks to my updated CV and newfound confidence with online technology I had two separate job interviews and offers. We had decided that, due to my personal priorities I would be looking at returning to professional commercial cleaning. However, Helga and I both agreed that my natural skills in terms of attention to detail and high personal standards would make me an asset within any production environment and we would continue to bear that in mind as I progressed on my journey back in to work.

I have attended every WiME event since and each time have brought a friend along with me. In March 2018, I was pleased to be able to stand up in front of the exhibitors at the beginning of the day and tell them:-

I have now found that job in production Helga and I had talked about. I am working for a small packaging firm in Hull which includes maintaining and calibrating machinery settings to produce luxury food packaging, amongst other things.

My children now see me as a working role model and appreciate the fact that I work. They make me a coffee when I get home and pitch in with household chores - I am not just ‘Mum’ anymore!

Case Study

Louise began her job as a CAD apprentice at Spencer Group just weeks after receiving her A level results.

She has always been interested in architecture and wanted to learn more about mechanical engineering. The thought of being taught sitting down in a classroom just didn’t appeal, so when she heard about WiME, she registered straight away.

I knew Spencer Group was a big name in engineering and, when I talked to their team, something just clicked into place. I applied to do work experience and, a few weeks after attending the WiME event, I was working in the Humber Quays head office. This valuable experience led to me being offered an apprenticeship.

I’m part of a big team, which services the various different sectors in which Spencer specialises, such as mechanical and structural engineering. I see my apprenticeship as a path to higher qualifications in engineering and I can’t wait to gain a degree in my chosen engineering field later down the line.

Young people like me should never think they can’t do it. You might look up at massive awe-inspiring structures and think you can never aspire to working on something like that, but you can. You learn it, you pick it up on the job, and there are so many people willing to help you along your way.