Babcock apprentice Amelia Bulley is one of a growing number of young women recognising the career opportunities offered by the engineering industry, and her talents and enthusiasm for the industry have been recognised by her lecturers who awarded her the prize for Engineering Student of the Year.
Whilst studying for a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering, Amelia’s eyes were opened to many areas of engineering: mechanical, fabrication, electrical, computer aided design, technical drawing, CNC machinery, welding and more. Amelia developed a preference for fabrication and she is now in her dream position as a craft fabrication apprentice at Babcock.
Amelia said: “It was my dad who first introduced me to engineering; it is such a vast area to study there’s bound to be something for everyone. Whatever your strengths, whether you are creative, logical or more practical, there is an area of engineering for you.
“I think Apprenticeships are a great way to learn. I enjoy being able to learn and develop new skills by learning on-the-job. I also enjoy learning and working with my co-workers as I always feel really welcome and accepted.”
Amelia’s off-the-job-training involves attending lectures and practical sessions at City College. About the College, Amelia said: “City College Plymouth has the capability to be able to supply all of the learning opportunities required of the apprentices. It has plenty of space, highly knowledgeable lecturers and some amazing engineering equipment that other smaller colleges simply don’t have.
“Since starting my Apprenticeship, I have been supported in increasing my skills, along with my confidence. Whenever I am in need of assistance or when I ask for feedback, my lecturers and mentors have always been there to support me; however, they do try to influence individual problem-solving to increase confidence. I wouldn’t have been able to achieve all distinctions in my first-year exams without the support of my lecturers.”
Amelia is hugely appreciative of the opportunities provided to her by Babcock, and she hopes to enjoy a long and successful career with them. She is also one of a number of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) ambassadors who are inspiring more and more young people to consider engineering as a career.
About Apprenticeships, Amelia added: “If anyone is considering an Apprenticeship, I couldn’t recommend this option more. You learn and grow on-the-job, while getting paid, and giving you the experiences of the job while gaining the qualifications you need: other options cannot do this.”
