Lara Small

Lara worked as a Capability Acquisition Engineer in her Year in Industry with Rolls-Royce, and is the winner of the 2010 WISE Special Judges Award.

Getting to know you

What subjects did you study at school?

I achieved A Level’s in Biology, Psychology and Geography. I later realised that engineering was for me, so I had to complete a Foundation Year in Engineering. This enabled me to qualify for a Masters degree in Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering, which I am currently completing.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy spending my weekends gliding over the Cotswolds; I have been running the University Gliding Club for a couple of years. When I am not flying , I am often training in Jujitsu , a brilliant martial art that I would strongly recommend! I am trying work my way to the next belt as I enjoy keeping fit. I also am a Junior Under Officer at the Bristol University Officer Training Corps, where I coordinate team activities and work towards my TA Commission through military training. When funds allow I love flying powered aircraft, or jumping out of them. I have skydived 19 times so far, truly exhilarating! I am also a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and hold a position on the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Committee, where I give presentations on the committee’s interests and lectures on being a young female in engineering. For more information, go to www.raes.org.uk/waac.

What is your favourite film/book?

I enjoyed watching a film called Girl Fight. Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Diana, is the lead role. Diana, without her father knowing it, trains as a boxer, when her father believes she is attending dancing lessons. She becomes a very successful boxer and becomes a role model for further female competitors.
4. What is your favourite food?
Carbonara.

Growing up

Do you have any specific role models/ mentors that influenced you into what you are doing now?

My choice to study engineering was partly based on three weeks that I spent working in an aviation maintenance facility, getting involved in the inner workings of reciprocal engines, being covered in oil and generally having a brilliant time, enjoying the smells and sounds of a practical engineering environment. I did not have a particular role model, although my Sixth Form tutor did help to persuade me that a degree in engineering was possible.

Who do you admire? (and why)

I don’t have one particular person, however I admire my female lecturers at university, along with women who have succeeded at Rolls-Royce and fellow companions of the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Committee at the Royal Aeronautical Society

What inspired you to get into engineering?

It might sound cheesy but I was fascinated with air displays as a child and I really wanted anything to do aircraft for my future – so either piloting them or understanding their workings became an option. I also spent some of my life prior to university identifying what I didn’t want to do, i.e accounting or insurance. Especially in contrast to these jobs, an engineering career becomes so much more exiting.

Engineering – it’s a girl thing

Job title

I worked as a Capability Acquisition Engineer for my Year In Industry at Rolls-Royce.

Did you always want to be in the profession you are in?

I spent a few year s without a specific career path. Since deciding on an engineering future, I have considered no further alternative career options. I have been totally convinced that the engineering career path is the one for me.

What is a day in your life like?

Whilst at Rolls-Royce, my day involved working with project teams for the F136 engine in the Joint Strike Fighter and the Pegasus Engine in the Harrier. I often dealt with customers in America and due to the time zone difference, I would get updates of the projects progression via emails in the morning. I would be the point of contact between customers, various supply chain units and materials/design specialists. I also worked with engine hardware, coordinating CMM inspections or assessing pre/post treatments using optical measuring methods.

Why do you think it is that not many girls get into engineering/STEM/Construction careers?

Engineering is associated with oil and grease and is a strongly male dominated environment. Whilst some girls would enjoy the challenge, others would be deterred from such a career. Engineering can be branded as geeky, or uncool… or perhaps full of ageing men. In reality, whilst there are a few Einstein lookalikes hiding in project halls, they are utterly fascinating to talk to and provide a wealth of knowledge. Every person I spoke to at Rolls-Royce was always keen to help and they provided valuable information and answers to further my own projects. In addition, I was fortunate with my sixth form tutor, who suggested my degree. Unfortunately I have heard stories of tutors discouraging their female students from an engineering related future.

What do you like most about your job?

I very much enjoyed the team I worked with. Along with developing a good rappore between my team and customer base, I made friends with most people in my building, which provide invaluable when I required their help. The wealth of knowledge existing in one building of Rolls-Royce was phenomenal, and all I had to do was ask questions to extract absolutely fascinating information from very intelligent people.

I also enjoy dealing with hardware – I enjoy practical, hands on opportunities to solve problems. These opportunities came about when parts came back from testing or returned from surface treatment, for example. Although my role was primarily desk based, I was given many tours of facilities, including wide chord fan blade construction in Rolls-Royce Barnolswick. After proving my ability to achieve objectives, I was tasked with chasing further deadlines for particular projects. I enjoyed being the company Rottweiler!

Have you got any interesting anecdotes/stories to share?

Engineering is a male dominated environment but there is nothing stopping you adding a few feminine touches. “Movember” is a charity event run during the month of November where whoever can grow a moustache is instructed not to shave the upper lip area for an entire month. My manager grew a cracking handlebar moustache, some others went for a more subtle approach. One of my colleagues had fairer hair, so his tache was less noticeable – so I used my black mascara to make it more obvious. I was told after the charity event had finished that I could stop growing mine… but some of my colleagues efforts could have been wiped away by a stiff breeze.

Your current projects

What are you currently working on/doing at the moment?

I am continuing my work from my placement into my dissertation. I spent time with a supplier developing a surface treatment technology for the leading edges of compressor blades. I am now looking into the effects of the surface treatment on the residual stress of the component, and from there, attempting to predict the amount of distortion that occurs in the metal.

What kind of jobs do you do on a day-to-day basis?

I am a student, so whilst attending lectures for my other modules, I work on my dissertation. At the moment, this involves spending time using a meshing software, where I will then be using finite element analysis to model the distortion.

How do you see your work affecting other people’s lives?

If I am able to predict the resultant distortion I will be able to help save time and money spent on empirical testing methods, allowing resources to be freed up for further research.

Complete the following sentence: “being an engineer is great because…”

… I get to work on phenomenally powerful pieces of machinery and contribute to the future success of aerospace technology, with a great range of intellectual wealth around me.

Challenges and obstacles

What is the biggest stereotype you have faced?

I really don’t think I have had to overcome any stereotypes. I have been made to feel very welcome at both Rolls-Royce and at the aviation maintenance facility that originally inspired me – I very much enjoyed proving that I was a capable, competent worker.

What difficulties have you encountered along the way that you had to overcome?

My main difficultly was finding confidence in my abilities to understand a technical subject. After A Levels in soft subjects, I hadn’t tried any maths since GSCE. All I had to do was apply my mind; really try to learn the subject. There was so much help available for my course that I made the most of. I was overwhelmed with my results from my foundation year – I passed everything to a good standard.

Do you find it difficult being mainly in a ‘male dominated’ job environment?

Not at all. I very much enjoy it. There are some jokes that you have to take with a pinch of salt… and it is important not to get offended by jibes about your personal appearance. I like to call it “banter”, and it is important that there is a healthy rapport between your team.

Future generation

What would you recommend to a girl who wants to do engineering (or your respective area) but is unsure of which field to get into?

Apply to different engineering companies and ask for work placement, either short term over summer or commit to a year with one company. The Year In Industry Scheme will be able to help you with this (Google it!). The best way to find out if you like something is by doing it.

What piece of advice would you give to an aspiring female engineer?

Do either a gap year or a placement year during your degree. By having this on your CV, you automatically become unique from your counterparts and instantly more employable. You will develop skills that are not pushed during education and you should mature considerably. You will be in for a real treat! The first steps into engineering are brilliant, there is so much information to digest – but in the best possible way. Industry has achieved so much in terms of technology and capability and a placement is an ideal way to dip your toe in engineering and really see if its right for you.

What advice do you wish you’d heard as a teenager?

Don’t rush into things, just because your friends are going down a particular route. Don’t be a sheep and rush off to university – make sure what you are choosing has a vocational purpose. Consider gap years or shorter placement opportunities where you can get a feel for a particular career path. Try things out short term, and make a decision when you have covered a few options. Alternatively, if you instinctively know what you want to do (and you are very lucky if that is you!) then utterly commit to it which all you’ve got – people will notice your drive and determination and support you all the way.