Different By Design gave me the opportunity to begin working on my career from the moment I left school. During my final year of sixth form my school was approached by DBD Chairman, Andrew Carlick, together with another graduate recruit to DBD, they encouraged me to apply for a new sponsored undergraduate scheme being created by the company. As part of the scheme, I would commit to carrying out a Summer placement at the company between each year of University and my studies would culminate with a place on DBD's graduate scheme. This would then provide the further necessary training to enable me to develop into a fully Qualified Engineer. It seemed too good an opportunity to pass up so I applied and much to my delight I was successful.
Therefore, after leaving school, I started to study for an integrated masters degree in Mathematics at Cardiff University. Each Summer. I would travel to Warrington to complete my placement giving me plenty of experience through working on projects in both the UK nuclear industry and on International projects.
Following the successful completion of my degree, I began working full-time at DBD in October ’17. I was provided with opportunities to use the experience I had already developed through my placements almost immediately, as well as developing my experience further. For my first project, I was given the responsibility of creating a large, complex OR model for an international waste management complex based in Idaho, USA, which included the opportunity of visiting the site. Despite the pressure of this challenge as my introduction to working with Clients in International markets, the Client was very pleased with the outcome and have now invited me to return as an experienced and valued member of the DBD delivery team, to continue this important work on their site.
DBD has also given me the chance to develop skills outside the usual engineering environment. I was given the chance to represent DBD at the launch of the Welsh Valleys Engineering Project (WVEP), a project run by the Royal Academy of Engineers to encourage young people in the South Wales Valleys to pursue careers in engineering. Through this project I was given the opportunity to present both at my old school and the launch event, in a hope to encourage the next generation of engineers. My message reached an even wider audience when I was asked to discuss careers in engineering on the BBC Radio Wales breakfast show.
My passion for this type of work has also led me to take on a role on a subcommittee of the Young Generation Network, focusing on the attraction of young people into the nuclear industry. I have also recently interviewed candidates for the next group of sponsored undergraduates. I am now looking forward to continuing with the DBD graduate scheme, moving onto getting chartered, and then continuing my development into a successful career in engineering.