• Question: how did you start engineering?

    Asked by valentina to Matthew, Neil, Paula, Pete, Philippa on 11 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Pete Symons

      Pete Symons answered on 11 Mar 2015:

      Hi valentina,

      I started in engineering really by mistake, I was got interested through a module on my University course I did, which got me interested in risk assessment and with a potential career in safety, at the time I didn’t really know it was engineering, I got a good degree and then it took me a while to get on a graduate programme with a defence contractor (Thales). Whilst at Thales and I learnt how to become a systems engineer, after a few years I specialised in safety. I’m really glad I found a career in engineering, but it found me I think!

    • Photo: Neil Taylor

      Neil Taylor answered on 11 Mar 2015:

      Hi!

      I started down the path of engineering after some career advice. I never really knew too much about engineering at the time, but i knew that I liked maths, physics, communicating and being creative – and engineering was suggested to me.

      Since then, I’ve really taken an interest in engineering – especially in the energy industry (oil and gas, nuclear, renewables). I think energy generation and conservation will be one of the biggest challenges facing engineers in the 21st century, which is part of what makes it so fascinating to me!

      Hope this helps!

    • Photo: Philippa Jefferis

      Philippa Jefferis answered on 13 Mar 2015:

      I first took part in “The Engineering Education Scheme” when I was in Year 10, where a team of us worked with The Royal Navy to come up with an engineering solution to a problem they had.

      Then I did a Headstart Course. It was a week course at the University of Bristol, where we got to sample lots of different types of engineering and speak to current students.

      Then finally, I took a year out between my A levels and going to University to work in a Civil Engineering consultancy.

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