Manufacturing Laboratory Technologist I joined Rolls-Royce in September 2018 on the Non-Destructive Testing Degree Apprenticeship, based at the Washington Campus, where we manufacture critical rotating parts for gas turbine engines used in civil aerospace. Non-destructive testing involves inspecting and analysing components to ensure they’re safe for use, using techniques that include fluorescent dyes, X-rays and ultrasound to look for defects. My apprenticeship spanned over four years. Whilst working I gained invaluable technical experience and studied for a Bachelor of Engineering in Non-Destructive Testing from the University of Northampton.

My own time spent at Emmanuel College has proven to be an invaluable experience, particularly when I realise the amount of skills, values and disciplines that I have carried with me into my degree apprenticeship. Emmanuel seemed to prepare me for a professional career from my very first day in Year 7 as the school encourages good behaviour, character and discipline. Emmanuel also offered a lot of interview training and support. When I applied for the role of Head Girl, there were formal interview procedures and again in Sixth Form there was a helpful focus on professional skills. Finally, a huge thing which benefited me was how much teachers, particularly my tutor at the time, tried to push me to step outside of my comfort zone and strive for more!

After leaving Sixth Form, I completed the PlanBEE apprenticeship through Gateshead College for two years. This entailed going to six different companies across the two years working in a range of different sectors within the construction industry from architecture to project management to quantity surveying. From this I decided that quantity surveying was the route I wanted to take and was fortunate to secure a job with Gleeds who would put me through university to get my degree. I was able to jump straight into the third year on the part-time quantity surveying degree apprenticeship at Northumbria.