Degree Apprentice - Eva Wroe

We're celebrating International Women's Day 2021. The theme this year is #ChooseToChallenge, so we're looking at some of the amazing women who work at the AMRC and AMRC Training Centre who #ChooseToChallenge engineering gender stereotypes every day.

Name: Eva Wroe

Job title: Degree Apprentice

Company: AMRC Training Centre apprentice at Atkins Global

Describe your job?

I’m a mechanical engineering degree apprentice working for Atkins Global. My office is based in the nuclear and power business sector and as a project management consultancy, Atkins offers a range of projects for me to get involved in.

Tell us about a typical week at work? 

My typical working week has definitely changed during Covid-19. I currently work from home and my company helped with this transition by providing me with office necessities like monitors and chairs, as well as continual apprentice support. Each week I have one day for university lectures and the remainder of the week is work. Since starting with Atkins, I’ve done a number of different jobs and been involved in a range of projects. At the moment I’m working on a software based project in a team of over twenty people based over multiple offices. Each week I work both independently and collaboratively with experienced engineers to meet project deadlines. My typical week also includes meetings with my line manager and project managers to update them on my progress and ask any questions I have which is especially beneficial since working at home.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry or thinking of a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)?

There are a lot STEM career opportunities available so it’s a good idea to do some research in order to get something that you find interesting and a company that would make that possible for you. Getting involved with work experience and STEM events are a great way to discover new roles that are of interest and they can give you a better idea of what different companies can offer. Think about your ideal role in the future and work backwards to find a company that will help you get there.

What is it like being a woman in engineering? 

Engineering is full of great opportunities for women. It’s an industry that changes so quickly so there are consistently new positions for development. Typically, it is a male majority industry but this has never impacted the work offered to me or the office culture. I’ve had a very positive experience since starting my career and I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of experienced people. I have worked on some projects that I wouldn’t have specifically considered previously that are contributing to shaping my career.

What is your greatest career achievement to date? 

I think my greatest achievement would be getting to be one of three applicants chosen for the apprenticeship program at Atkins Sheffield. There were a range of interview stages to pass in order to get to the position which were each challenging in their own way. Prior to this, I had minimal experience with interviews so I wasn’t sure what to expect but the process was a great experience and definitely worth; I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.

Why did you choose a career in STEM?

Engineering was always an interest growing up since I had family members that work in the industry. Then at school and sixth form I particularly enjoyed maths and physics so I was always interested in getting more involved with STEM events outside of education. When I was specifically looking for a career path engineering stood out. It seem to offer a good mix of the practical subjects I enjoyed in a professional setting. Engineering was always appealing due to the diversity of roles with transferable skills; it seemed there would always been something more to learn.