Job Title: Design Automation Apprentice
Company: Balmoral Tanks
Tell us a bit about yourself. This can include telling us what fires you up about the job you do, your professional achievements, your career highlights. What inspires you? What attracted you to pursue a career in manufacturing? Is there anything else you’d like to say about either your job or UK manufacturing?
From a young age I have always had a practical, problem-solving mindset, as I grew up surrounded by construction equipment. This enticed me into design, which I selected as an option at school. This opened the doors of CAD which showed me the theoretical side of engineering, rather than just doing solely design. I was also interested in coding and developing my own design systems.
Currently, I am coming to the end of my Advanced Level 3 Apprenticeship with Balmoral Tanks. My job role requires me to provide technical support to the design team, and to develop automated systems which they can utilise to create standard parts, at a click of a button. Since starting my apprenticeship, I have been developing a form of access into the tank called a manway. The design department are currently having to use the previous outdated models, but the ones I have created include new features such as additional plates to reinforce its structural integrity and an automated form.
This was presented in our Design Automation Quarterly Review. This development ensures the design team are aware of what new updates the systems will include. Furthermore, as my job requires me to provide technical support, I often aid the design team whenever they encounter an error with the systems.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
To continue persevering, regardless of the ups and downs – the grass is greener on the other side.
What is your favourite engineered/manufactured product?
iPhone / Rubik’s Cube.
Please give one interesting fact about yourself that not many people know.
I like adrenaline pumping sports and activites.
If you weren’t in manufacturing what would be your dream job?
Army Aircorops Pilot.