With the recent announcement of a new Clean Energy Education Hub, Redcar and Cleveland College’s engineering department is growing from strength to strength… and it doesn’t stop there. We are proud to welcome our new engineering partnerships officer, Jessie Baguley, to the college.
With over ten years of experience in the engineering and education sector, we caught up with Jessie to discuss the importance of educating engineers and why this new role is so exciting!
Why did you choose a career in engineering?
During my A levels, I was always interested in theatre. I was studying drama, dance and film studies, and it wasn’t until I spoke to my college careers advisor, that I discovered my interest in engineering.
My careers advisor mentioned the soft skills that were involved in engineering, such as troubleshooting and communicating, and this was so relatable to me. When backstage in the theatre, I had always enjoyed fixing the lights and sound. I was intrigued with fault finding and creating solutions to fix issues, so I decided to change my course and study a BTEC Diploma in Engineering, and everything just clicked into place!
What is your previous engineering experience?
I started working in industry as an electronic technician. Over the five years with the company, I was continually developing my knowledge and I progressed within the manufacturing team. I went from building items to working on repairs, circuit reading and training staff, which is what lead me into teaching.
I decided to apply for an undergraduate degree in secondary design and technology education, and I continued to work whilst completing my degree. This helped me massively in my studies. In 2017, I then moved into the education sector as an engineering teacher, specialising in systems control and mechatronics. I found it very rewarding to be inspiring and educating future engineers.
What interests you the most about the engineering industry?
I’m very passionate about advocating for women in engineering. I was the only female on my college course and even at university, there was a low number of female students. In my first workplace, I was initially the only female member of the engineering and manufacturing team, and I want to inspire others to join the industry.
I’m a big supporter of International Women in Engineering Day (taking place on Thursday 23rd June 2022) and celebrating the successes of women engineers. In my previous role I was dedicated to developing my course, so that it was more female friendly and encouraged young women to consider a career in engineering. Female engineers are so important in a workforce!
What are you most looking forward to about this role?
I’m looking forward to the challenge and being involved in the development of this new role. I’m aiming to combine my experience in the engineering industry and education sector to provide employers and individuals with the information and support they require when considering upskilling.
I’m excited to meet employers and to work with them to identify any skills gaps and find the best way to meet their requirements and strengthen their workforce.
For more information about our courses or to arrange a tour of our dedicated engineering facilities at Redcar and Cleveland College, please contact Jessie via email on jessie.baguley@cleveland.ac.uk or call 07950 879853.
Click here to view our latest engineering course information!
