Just before half term, GKN apprentices visited school, to speak to our pupils about careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).
GKN is a global engineering business that design, manufacture and service systems and components for original equipment manufacturers around the world.
Rebeccah Freeman, 4th year engineering apprentice, told our pupils:
My uncles are engineers and I loved hearing them talk about it and also my dad was a mechanic.I used to spend weekends and school holidays at my dad’s garage which inspired me to want to get into that sort of career. I loved Maths and Science at school and did A Level Maths as result.
I am currently in my final year of my 4 year apprenticeship and completing my final year of my foundation degree which GKN, who have sponsored me for.
I do my foundation degree on a day release program while working as a manufacturing engineer the rest of the week. I work as a manufacturing engineer on sideshaft assembly, and have recently been asked to be involved in the implementation of a new cell which will be coming into the area.
Once my apprenticeship is over I will be staying in the sideshaft assembly area to be able to gain more knowledge and skills to help me excel within my career as an engineer.
Emily Pringle, International Graduate Engineering, GKN Aerospace, told us:
My inspiration to go into engineering was mainly that I love Maths at school and liked the problem solving aspect.
Before applying to university, I was conflicted between engineering or business. However, I learned that industrial engineering would allow me to work in a wide range of roles from very technical to more on the business side of any industry.In my current role I am looking at the flow of material through the plant and how to better optimise the building process of an aircraft window. In one of the production buildings, the manufacturing takes place on multiple levels each of which had components stored that are needed to assemble a window. I have implemented a new system in which all the components are stored near the point of use in assembly.
