TEC Role Model: Lily Abraham

Job title:

Supportability Engineer at Babcock International Group

Location:

Plymouth

What inspired you to go into engineering?

I loved maths, creative thinking and problem solving at school and I’ve always been driven by a defiance of the phrase “that’s for boys”. I had supportive parents and my dad was an engineer so I grew up doing DIY and fixing things with him.

What do you love about your job?

I love the challenge of my job, I’m always having to expand my knowledge and learn new skills. I like researching, discovering new information and finding solutions especially if the problem seems complex at first, there’s a strong sense of achievement when you get that breakthrough. I also volunteer to support STEM outreach and passing on the confidence to other young girls to go for the career they want is so rewarding and exciting.

How did you get your job?

I completed a higher level mechanical engineering apprenticeship after my a-levels. It was a great entryway into the engineering industry building my basic skills and knowledge from the ground up. I’ve now gained my degree in engineering, part time alongside my work, so now I have the qualifications and experience to support my career aspirations.

What advice would you give to a young person looking to start a career in your industry?

Look at all your options and figure out where you can start without worrying where you want to end up so much. The modern engineering industry is changing all the time and I’ve found it best to focus on the now and building your core skills. Aiming for the top can seem intimidating and unachievable so don’t let that put you off even starting. You’ll end up where you’re meant to be.

Why would you encourage more girls to pursue a career like yours?

I would encourage any girl to go for whatever career they want, and if that’s engineering then go for it! The industry is open to everyone and whilst it can have its challenges, I’ve never regretted committing to my goal to become engineer. We owe it to ourselves to explore that spark that’s excited by maths or science and seeing where it can take us just like anyone else.