1. Any kind of further study you undertook after leaving Bedales, and any qualifications that you gained.
I studied Automotive Engineering BEng at the University of Brighton achieving a first class honours. I also won an award from the iMechE for best student of that year. Since that I have become a fully-fledged member of the iMechE at EngTech level (Engineering Technician). I'm working towards Incorporated status and then Chartered. Since working at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), I have become a keen problem solver and I'm a certified Six Sigma Green Belt and I'm working towards Black Belt certification now.
2. What kind of work you are currently involved in, and how and why you came to be doing it.
I'm currently working for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) as a Project Engineer. More precisely, I work in the PVT (Plant Vehicle Team) department of Body Engineering in the Halewood (Liverpool) manufacturing facility focusing on BIW (Body-in-white - effectively the metal shell of the car before it's painted). We build the Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery Sport. During university, I did a work placement in my third year at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. I also completed my final year thesis with them and this proved to confirm my career direction into my love of cars and engineering. Alas I didn't get into their graduate scheme, but the silver lining presented itself with a contract role for JLR. 2 years of contracting later, I transferred to a permanent role (albeit same position) and here we are now.
3. Whether being at Bedales has helped you in getting to where you are now, and how satisfied you are with what you are doing.
I would say yes it has. I fondly remember a Civics lecture from a UK astronaut and asked him what grades he achieved in A Level Physics to be able to live his dream. He replied with a 'C'. To which I felt I wasn't going to be such a failure! Bedales taught me how to develop into a rounded, interesting and unique individual. Bedales sets you up for university with the boarding house layout and life in and around the school. It's a fantastic grounding for life beyond, although I don't think I really appreciated that till after leaving the 'Bedales bubble'! Following that I'm really enjoying my current career path.
(Summer 2018)