“I crash cars for a living,” says Emma. “I’m responsible for the crash testing of Jaguar vehicles – and I absolutely love it! I carry out different tests for different types of car, keep up to date with regulations around the world and look at new technologies and techniques to make the cars as safe as possible.
“It’s one of those features that you hope no customer will ever have to experience, but you know that if they do, you’ve helped to make the car safe. It’s really exciting to be in a role where you have cars around you and can touch them.”
Emma’s had a steep learning curve – from a full-time year at college to a second year moving around the business on placements. Yet she’s embraced the opportunities.
Promoting engineering apprenticeships
Not least, Emma has carried over her enthusiasm for engineering to activities outside of work. She is particularly active in encouraging girls to consider engineering apprenticeships and careers.
She has returned to speak at her all-girls school, run engineering workshops for girls with the Soroptimist International Society and promoted scholarships for women in engineering.
Most recently, Emma has worked with the Smallpeice Trust, an organisation she first encountered while at school, upon attending their engineering residential course.
“They recently hit their 50th anniversary, so I agreed to feature in a book to mark the occasion. It’s meant to give their students ideas about what they could go on and do if they continue with STEM subjects,” she highlights.
Route to engineering
For Emma, there was never a question over whether she should pursue STEM subjects and a related career.
“I was always strongest in STEM subjects and my parents encouraged me in them,” she explains.
However, her decision about what to do once she finished school was not as straightforward.
“I applied to university, but I knew I was going to hit the UK tuition fee increase, which was quite a concern. Also, because I’m quite young in the school year, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to go to university.”
Emma opted instead to take an apprenticeship and although several teachers questioned her decision, she is confident she made the right one.
“Doing an apprenticeship where the degree was paid for really helped,” she says. “I also find I learn so much better when I get taught something at college, and then go to work and apply the learning.”
Being a YWE finalist
As a YWE finalist, Emma wants to share her experiences as an apprentice and woman in engineering to encourage others.
“I want to show that you don’t have to go down the typical degree route to be successful. Depending on how you learn, an apprenticeship might be a better option. I also want to prove that women can get fantastic jobs in engineering and can achieve just as much as men in these roles.”
Find out more about the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards.
Published December 2016, updated November 2018