High-flier Robyn goes from Red Arrows work experience to 2026 Graduation Governors' Award win

Now 21, Robyn has switched from planes to trains, as part of an apprenticeship with Siemens Mobility, who recommended that she furthered her education by studying our Level 4 HNC in Engineering for England qualification on day release from her home in Lincoln.

Having first acquired a love for engineering watching her granddad make Star Wars models, Robyn’s role with Siemens sees her regularly stripping down the undercarriages of trains as she breaks down gender stereotypes in an industry traditionally dominated by males.

Also hailed as an excellent role model for all Engineering students by her tutors in the citation for her award, Robyn was lauded for developing complex electropneumatic systems and implementing modern production manufacturing methods in the classroom, while tackling areas well outside of her comfort zone and setting exceptionally high personal targets that she took pride in meeting.

Women still only make up approximately 17% of the UK’s engineering and technology workforce but, in Robyn’s experience, it is now an industry where she feels welcomed, able to thrive and one where she would encourage others to join her. 

“I work at quite a big facility and most of the engineers are men," she pointed out. “There are only a few women, but I’d encourage anybody just to give it a go. 

“I know it might be scary, but you just need to make that jump and do it, because it's so rewarding. Everyone has their own input and ideas and it’s not just about needing more women in the industry either.

“It's important that we get a variety of people that are interested in engineering and who are brave enough to go and try it, because something really wonderful might come from that.” 

Robyn knows exactly where “giving it a go” can take you.

After being inspired by her granddad from an early age, she chose Engineering as one of her GCSE options at school before going on to study Level 3 General Engineering at Lincoln University Technical College.

While there, quite literally following the old adage of the sky’s the limit, she pursued and secured a pair of very ambitious work experience placements.

“My love of engineering came from my granddad,” Robyn declared. “He had a garage in his garden, where he used to tinker with things. 

“He would build small models and then paint them - all sorts of things from little Star Wars models to aircraft - and I can remember sitting on his knee and watching him. It was something that became really important for me from a very early age. 

“I've also been interested in aircraft for a long time, and it's always been a part of my life, with both my parents having previously served in the Royal Air Force. As part of my Level 3 course, I was required to do two work placements and, for my first, I worked with the Ground Equipment Flight (GEF) team, maintaining service equipment at RAF Waddington and was also fortunate enough to spend time with the No.8 squadron on their E-3D Sentry airborne early warning aircraft. 

“On my second placement, I then worked with the Red Arrows – a truly incredible experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. My time with the aircraft involved routine maintenance and testing both in and out of the hangar, which meant I spent most of my time with the technicians. 

“On my final day, I then spent time with the pilots and Operations Team where I learnt about flight mapping, data analysis and briefing. Those experiences help support me in my work today, as they have provided me with a solid foundation of professionalism, dedication and pride in my work. 

“They also always remind me that, when you work hard towards your ambitions, you can go incredible places.” 

With the help of her tutors, Robyn maintained that mantra throughout her York College studies, culminating in her crowning moment at the Minster.

“It felt amazing to graduate and so exciting do it at York Minster,” she added. “I worked really hard to get to that point, so felt very proud of myself. 

“College has also taught me to keep pushing, because I did find the course hard at times and my work placement, too. But College has helped me realise that, if I put my mind to something, I can do it and that's something that has transferred across into my work placement. 

“I found the tutors to be very helpful and, whenever I was struggling, they were very kind and willing to help me where I needed it. It was quite stressful, balancing my work and studies, but everyone was very supportive and Siemens did allow me one study day a week for my coursework.

“It’s been really amazing, getting the work experience, as well as furthering my education. I’d love to do a degree next and progress from Level 5 to Level 6 so I can just keep learning, because there's so much to learn.” 

Robyn is also enjoying expanding her workplace knowledge with Siemens and, outlining her current duties as an Engineering Manufacturing Technician, explained: “I overhaul the trains, specifically on the bogies, which are the undercarriages, so we pull them apart, strip them down and put them all back together again. I enjoy putting everything back together and seeing how it all works, as one system, when all the small parts are in place.”

We are now looking forward to seeing in what direction Robyn’s engineering career takes off in coming years.

“Although I'm working on trains at the moment, I'd really love to go into aerospace eventually,” she enthused.

To learn more about our HNC Engineering for England course, click here 

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