GovWire

Getting hands on experience and working in a team of people with varying expertise and knowledge are some key wins with being a Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) apprentice.

Electronics engineering apprentice, Ellie Allison, who joined Dstl in September 2021 straight after finishing her A Levels, can vouch for this. Ellie describes her favourite part of engineering being the hands on practical work she gets to do, and how she is proud of the work shes involved in as she knows it has a lasting impact.

She discovered her passion for engineering early on in life:

When I was 11 I joined Sea Cadets and thats where I learned that my love for physics and how everything moves directly translates to engineering. I remember doing engine checks on many different boats when I was 16 on a variety of vessels, from a small powerboat engine, to a rustler 42 yacht, to TS Royalist the flagship of the Sea Cadet fleet. That was my realisation moment that engineering was something that I just had to do.

Ellies first year at Dstl was spent at Wiltshire College, learning the theoretical side of engineering.

I then started integrating properly into Dstl with placements from July 2022, these placements lasted on average 3 to 6 months. My placements have been in a range of groups and teams spanning over Chemical biological radiological (CBR), Cyber and information systems (CIS) and Counter-terrorism and security (CTS) divisions working on a variety of projects and equipment.

Being safe at work has also played a part in Ellies time at Dstl:

Health and safety is absolutely imperative in an engineering role. As an apprentice there is a very strong focus on safety in our education and in our day to day placements. We have learnt the correct processes and procedures and reporting systems for when we think something is unsafe or could be safer.

Apprentices are also enrolled on additional safety courses like IOSH, First Aid at Work and working with explosives. Courses like these allow us to integrate into existing teams with the required safety knowledge to complete a task.

Ellie also talks about International Women in Engineering Day which has been going for 10 years now (usually occurs in June) and celebrates women working in the industry:

I think that International Women in Engineering Day is an amazing celebration of the women in the profession and their innovation - it allows women to take centre stage to show off their achievements and become role models to young women and girls who may want to follow an engineering career.

It took me a while to realise that I wanted to become an engineer as it wasnt a career put forward to me when I was younger and so now I really believe that it is vital to inspire girls to become engineers or even women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) from as young as possible.

I think its amazing that Dstl is working hard to encourage girls and spread the grassroots.

Ellie also has an accolade of her own to add:

My proudest moment was being given a future talent award from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and attending their awards ceremony in London. It was truly a special day.