Job Title: Level 3 Electrical Engineering Fitter Apprentice
Company: Yamazaki Mazak
What is your background, and how did you come to be in your present role?
In Year 10, my school offered the opportunity to take part in the Industrial Cadetship at Mazak, where I now work. That week gave me the chance to experience different areas of the factory and made me feel like part of the team. It really clicked for me—I could see myself working there in the future.
Then in Year 11, I won the “If You Were an Engineer, What Would You Do?” national STEM challenge, which further confirmed my interest in engineering. When the apprenticeship opportunity at Mazak came up, I jumped at it and was lucky enough to be accepted.
What has been your greatest challenge so far in your career?
I’m naturally a shy person, so things like interviews or speaking in front of people were really daunting at first. At Mazak, there are lots of opportunities to get involved in STEM outreach, factory tours, and careers fairs, which used to feel very outside my comfort zone. I started small, with tours where I felt confident in the information, and worked my way up. Now I’ve spoken to audiences of up to 200 students.
What about your greatest achievement so far in your career?
Being nominated for this [Top 100] is really exciting. I’ve also been a finalist in other awards and I’m part of a charity committee at Mazak, where we’ve raised around £3,000 over the last couple of years. I’ve had opportunities to judge STEM competitions, do radio interviews, appear in newspapers, and soon I’ll be speaking on a panel in front of about 500 students in London. All of it contributes to encouraging young women into STEM, which I’m proud of.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Stick with the subjects and activities you enjoy, even if you’re the only girl doing them. You have just as much right to be there as anyone else, so don’t let that discourage you.
Have you experienced being the only woman in the room?
Definitely. It’s improving, but I was the only girl in my Design Technology and Computing classes. It’s something that still comes up today, but I think that’s slowly changing.
How do you think we can raise the profile of careers in STEM?
We need more outreach opportunities, starting from a young age and continuing through to 18. One of my first experiences was a free club at B&Q where we built things out of wood—planters, bird boxes, bug houses. It was open to everyone and got me thinking about engineering in a practical way. Clubs like that, especially when they’re accessible to all backgrounds, can really spark interest.
What is your favourite engineered or manufactured product?
My car. I’m not a car person—I don’t know how it works and don’t care about fancy features—but it gives you freedom. Only 150 years ago we used horse and cart, and now I can travel 40 minutes without giving it a second thought. That’s a huge transformation.
What’s one interesting fact about you that not many people know?
I’m learning to ride horses even though I’m scared of them! One tried to buck me off when I was seven, and I’ve been scared ever since—but I’ve always wanted to learn, so I’m pushing through it. I can now ride without panicking, which feels like progress.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in manufacturing?
Go for it! If you’re passionate and determined, you can definitely succeed. And if you’re not into working with tools or being on the factory floor, there are still loads of other roles—logistics, management, design. There really is something for everyone.
Do you think manufacturing still has an image problem?
Yes, definitely. People still expect it to be dirty, greasy, and outdated, but it’s not like that anymore. Every time we host work experience students, they’re surprised by how clean and modern it is. I now help run the same Industrial Cadetship that first got me into Mazak, and it’s always a full-circle moment seeing new students have that same reaction.
