Helen Engineers School Visit

6 April 2006

What do former US President Jimmy Carter, Film Director Alfred Hitchcock and the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, all have in common?

They all qualified as engineers.

The question was one of many asked by engineer Helen Manson on a recent visit to Thornaby Community School.

Helen, a high voltage electrical engineer for Sembcorp Utilities UK on the Wilton International site, was invited by the schools Head of Engineering Colin Proctor, to give a brief talk on engineering to some 60 Year 9 students.

Mr Proctor said: “I think there needs to be a greater awareness about what an engineer actually does and what opportunities are available to both males and females. And what better way than to hear that from someone who has been there and done it, as is the case with Helen.”

Helen, 30, started as a 16 year old apprentice with Teesside Training Enterprise (TTE) before being taken on by ICI as an electrician. She then spent a number of years learning her trade and with encouragement and support from new owners Sembcorp studied for four years to gain an engineering degree.

Helen said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the school and the pupils were very enthusiastic, asking a number of interesting and not so easy to answer questions.”

She added: “I can’t stress enough the opportunities and encouragement available for youngsters - girls as well as boys - here on Teesside. I know, for example, that there is a major initiative involving a number of manufacturing companies at Wilton, Billingham and North Tees, called the Tees Valley Production Technician Studentship. I would certainly encourage school leavers to consider a career in industry as there are some positive initiatives on Teesside at the moment.”

Mr. Proctor said: “Helen has done an excellent job today - the children were fascinated by what she had to say. In fact I have invited Helen back to talk to our Year 11 pupils later this year. Who knows, some of the children may be joining Jimmy Carter, Alfred Hitchcock and Neil Armstrong as engineers of the future?”

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