WHAT’S HAPPENING
Katie engineers a great future
A 16 year-old student from Southampton
has beaten off ‘hundreds’ of others and
bagged a prestigious six-year engineering
apprenticeship.
Katie Hopper, who attends Salisbury’s
University Technical Collage (UTC), was
the only female who applied to Associated
British Ports (ABP) for the higher level
degree apprenticeship. “It was all men at the
interviews and they were all about ten years
older than me,” said Katie, who is studying
a range of STEM subjects, including
engineering, electronics and computer
science at the UTC.
Principal of the South Wiltshire UTC,
Joe Mulligan, said it was unheard of for a
16-year-old to be offered a higher level
degree apprenticeship. “We are all very
proud of what Katie has achieved, she has
worked tremendously hard and thoroughly
deserves this amazing opportunity.”
According to the Women’s
Engineering Society, the UK has the
lowest percentage of female engineers
in Europe, at less than 10%. Katie hopes she will
be one of many young women bucking this trend.
“I am ecstatic for getting this far, especially
for my age; it is a dream,” she said. “I also
want to slowly and steadily promote women in
engineering.”
Katie has already completed some work
experience at ABP. It’s the UK’s leading
ports’ operator with a network of 21 ports
contributing, £7.5 billion to the UK economy,
annually. “During my work experience, I met the
apprentices,
saw project management, and
worked with electrical, mechanical and facility
management teams. I got to drive cranes, go on
a pilot launch trip and meet people I should be
working with.”
During her six-year apprenticeship at ABP,
she will do her HNC, HND and degree. And as if
she isn’t busy enough already, Katie also plays
basketball for the Solent Kestrels in the National
Premiere League.
Apprentice
power
Engineers collect a vast array of skills
and experience through their working
lives, and it is essential that these are
passed onto the next generation to
become tomorrow’s engineers.
Sulzer has a long and distinguished
history in delivering engineering
solutions, and, at its Southampton base,
there is a strong focus on engineering,
supported by its continued investment
in both apprentices and equipment.
Simon Dawkins, General Manager,
Operations, for Sulzer in Southampton,
explains: “In order to maintain our
excellent engineering knowledge, we
need to ensure that our more senior
engineers pass on their knowledge and
expertise to the next generation.
“There is no substitute for hands-on
learning and, by working beside an
experienced engineer, our apprentices
have the opportunity to see highly
skilled jobs being done rst-hand.”
Currently, there are ve apprentices
in training in Southampton, with two
more due to start later in the year.
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