When Engineering graduate Kay, 41, set off for a weekend of live music at Bluedot festival, she never imagined the experience would inspire her to pursue an exciting new career.
Now working as an Aerodynamics Engineer, Kay looks back on how she juggled Open University (OU) study with a young family and grabbed the opportunity to make her mark in a fascinating sector.
The lightbulb moment
Held in Cheshire, Bluedot is not only a music festival, but also home to an annual celebration of science and exploration – something Kay didn’t realise when she was packing her tent.
“My husband knew all about the festival, but I had no idea it was science orientated,” Kay remembers. “It was a such a cool experience. The whole environment was brilliant, all happening beneath the iconic Lovell telescope, there were talks from experts across a massive range of subjects – my mind was absolutely blown.”
Having taught overseas for several years, Kay and her husband had returned to their hometown in the UK to start a family and were running a small business organising holidays for cycling enthusiasts.
“I enjoyed the business for a while, but it was never my dream,” Kay reflects. “It wasn’t until my eyes were opened at Bluedot that I realised what I wanted to do. After one of the talks I went to, someone gave me a flyer about women in engineering. There were quotes printed on the back and each one resonated with me. I was hooked.”
Taking the leap
With her mind firmly set on pursuing a career in engineering, Kay was determined to find a way she could study alongside caring for her daughters.
“I knew the OU had a great reputation and I loved that you could be in control of your own learning. So I took the leap and signed up,” says Kay. “Yes, there are deadlines to meet and assignments to submit, but you can fit your study around all the other things going on in your life.”
Thrilled by the scope of her subject, Kay soon realised the breadth of opportunities an engineering degree could offer.
“It’s such a varied field of study and there are different routes you can take depending on your interests,” explains Kay. “I was drawn to the mathematical side of engineering – I’d always loved maths at school, but never fully understood how it could be used practically.”
Flexibility with support
When a placement with BAE was advertised through OU channels, Kay jumped at the chance to get some industry experience.
“Being able to put what I’d learned into practice was amazing,” Kay reflects. “But it was more difficult to find the time to study. One of the best things about the OU is that you can press pause when you need to. I postponed a module while I was on placement, but there were other times throughout my degree when I had the capacity to double up on modules.”
With Drama as her first degree and a background in teaching, engineering was a complete change. There were times when Kay struggled with her confidence.
“I had imposter syndrome a lot. I couldn’t have made it through my degree without a support network,” Kay shares. “My husband and family took things off my plate when I needed it. And I developed great friendships with other engineering students – we were in the same boat, so we all supported each other.”
Managing time
Like many OU students with busy lives, Kay developed strategies to manage her time.
“One of my tutors gave me a useful tip – make a diary of everything you need to do in your week and work out what’s fixed, what can be shifted and what can be taken away completely,” Kay suggests.
“That way, you can find your slots to squeeze in some study. OU students become experts at making the most of their time – I became an engineer while juggling a young family, the OU made it possible.”
Being a STEM ambassador
A strong believer in tackling inequalities in the sector, Kay is an active STEM ambassador delivering outreach programmes in schools and other institutions.
“There’s still a huge disparity between the number of men and women in engineering roles and that spurs me on,” Kay says. “I work with STEM Learning and I love challenging the preconceptions of what an engineer is – I hope by doing this, more girls will explore STEM related careers.”
When asked why someone might consider an engineering career, Kay’s love for her work shines through.
“Do it to prove something to yourself and other people. Do it for the endless career prospects. Do it for the excitement! For example, I now work in aerodynamics and I understand how the smallest change on the surface of a plane can affect its ability to fly – isn’t that incredible?”
Kay adds, “With the OU you can get an industry respected qualification while you manage your other commitments. Juggling everything can be tough, but the tutors are always there when you need them and the support from the student community is amazing. I can’t think of a reason not to go for it!”
