Having completed a four year apprenticeship, Ellie is now responsible for installing and maintaining all instrumentation and control systems on site.
Find out why she enjoys her role so much...
“I work four days per week on site and one day studying at university for my Electronics Degree. I have a good salary, no student debt plus the support and funding from my employer to complete my degree and progress within the company.
However, I am the only female technician at SemLogistics - it’s a totally male dominated environment. And, in fact, UK-wide, only 9 per cent of engineers are women.
I love my job though and see it as my duty to overturn preconceived ideas about the engineering sector and share my positive experiences. I want to help other girls and women open their minds to consider careers in engineering as I know first-hand what a rewarding and enjoyable career it can be.
My role involves working with field instrumentation which measures and reports on the process conditions of the site. The work I do is vital for minimising equipment downtime, therefore increasing productivity and safety on site.
At school, I enjoyed the STEM subjects and took physics, maths and biology at A-level. At the time, I had no idea of the career options available in engineering – that doesn’t seem to be taught in school. It was only when I arranged some work experience at a local industrial site that I discovered an interest in instrumentation and control.
I come from rural Pembrokeshire in South West Wales where there are limited career options. At school, it was only ever suggested to me that I complete my A-Levels and progress onto an engineering degree at university.
I decided to do a bit more research and happened upon an apprenticeship scheme whereby I would gain hands on experience whilst completing academic studies and get paid to do so. This really appealed to me. It has been an incredibly positive experience and, I can confidently say it was the best decision I could have made for my future.
It has also given me a springboard to work towards further academic qualifications. I am now completing my degree and have the skills and knowledge to achieve in my career, both practically and utilising theory based knowledge.
I am still only 21 years old and I find it rewarding to have the confidence to share my ideas and exceed people’s expectations in a field which is known for being dominated by men.
My apprenticeship has provided me with the ideal platform to build my career. I have already achieved so much, and I was a finalist for the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards in 2017. I am also a STEM ambassador and help inspire other women into the industry. It’s a role I take very seriously and will do all I can to encourage others to consider engineering as a career option.”
