I joined BAE Systems as a graduate naval architect in Glasgow. My family has been involved in shipbuilding for generations and I also spend a lot of my free time sailing, so I really enjoyed learning all I could about the industry at university.
I joined the Accelerate graduate programme here, which is 18 months long. It’s a little different to other graduate programmes as it doesn’t involve rotating into different parts of the business. Instead, it’s about joining one team, getting to grips with particular issues and being in the team long enough to take full responsibility for them and deliver from day one. You are given the time to undertake ‘stretch assignments’ which allow you to tackle projects outside your team and build connections across the business.
All of us on the programme are good at keeping in touch with each other. I’ve got a really good graduate network around me and I think that’s going to be invaluable as I move into new roles and new responsibilities in the business.
No two days are the same here, which is one of the reasons why I love my job so much. From day one of the programme I felt part of the team and was given genuine responsibility. Even in the two years that I’ve been here I can point to pieces of equipment and designs that I’ve put together that will be part of the Type 26 for decades to come. It’s that opportunity to contribute that really grabbed me about working here.
When I finished the Accelerate programme, I sat down with my manager to discuss my next move. It was important to me to move into a role that gave me more independent authority and also made sure I had overalls on at least once a week to be involved with the ships I was working on. I like to get onto our ships and see for myself how my work makes a difference. That’s really important for me as an engineer, to actually see the challenge that I need to solve with my own eyes.
I’d encourage anyone that’s at university at the moment to get involved in our undergraduate roles to get a flavour of what it’s like here. After my success as an intern I was offered my programme place in my final year. That really helped with the transition from university and meant that in my final year. I was able to focus on studying and didn’t have to worry about applying for jobs. It definitely made life easier. On our graduate programmes there’s a great work-life balance, real responsibility, and an amazing level of support and development. After the structure of university, BAE Systems really lets you fly.
