Shannon Lawrence

"I am a Telecommunications Engineer for Network Rail and I spend most of my time helping to look after communication equipment and systems across the Eastern side of England. In Telecoms we make sure that information can get from one place to another and this is really important when we look at running a Railway. It is critical for the safety of passengers, trains and rail workers that the rail communications systems are working properly so that everyone knows where trains are, what is happening, and can send important emergency information when needed. The ‘Explorer’ type fits me perfectly as I am inquisitive and want to know how things work, and this is important so that I am able to understand things when they don’t work or when I am looking at bringing in new equipment to use. In Telecoms we use lots of technology and technology is always changing so it's good to have a passion for learning new things. There is always something new to learn! The ‘Influencer’ type is a good fit for me as I have to write reports and look at lots of performance information, plus I also have a good eye for detail and makes sure that things are done correctly. I am conscientious and I am definitely a ‘Coordinator’ for rail users, making sure that everyone gets home safely every day when working on or using the railway."

"I am part of the asset management team. This is the team that looks after all the Telecoms equipment and systems from when they first get put in place to when we replace it or change it for newer technology. We look at the equipment and systems as a whole and make sure that they are working to the best of their ability. We also help our maintenance teams (the people who fix the equipment and systems when they go wrong) with any problems or issues they are having. I work on investigating faults and the performance of the equipment and making sure our equipment doesn't have the potential to cause injury or harm to people being around it / using it. I also help to make sure the new equipment is introduced properly and that the money we spend on it will be worthwhile. The best part of my job is being able to see things from a wider perspective. I get to see equipment across its whole life cycle from when it is designed, installed, used and eventually retired and replaced. This gives me a feeling of making a difference which is something that is an important factor in motivating me. I feel like I get to leave my mark on things and make things better for passengers using the railways and also the people who work on them. Telecommunications Engineers typically earn £30,000 + "

"I started working as a business administrator when I left school but I wanted something more challenging. I have found that in engineering. I did not know any female engineers when I applied but this didn't stop me. I completed Network Rail’s Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme. The scheme was 3 years of work and study and included a few months of residential training in the first year. I got a useful mix of qualifications including BTEC Level 3 in Engineering Operations and NVQ Level 3 in Performing Railway Engineering Operations that gave me both the skills and the knowledge to do the job. As I was working during my training I was earning a salary and my employer paid all my training fees. I then spent time working as a Telecoms Maintenance Technician . In this role I looked after and fixed all of the telecoms equipment day to day. I enjoyed this role as I got to spend everyday outside , working hands on. I then moved into my current role which allowed me to see things from a wider perspective and gave me the chance to learn new things. In the future, I want to do a degree which is something that my employer will support me with. "

"I am a keen volunteer. At the moment I volunteer each week to run a Girlguiding group called Rainbows ( girls aged 4-7). I also volunteer for a charity called Daisy Chain and work as a Wellbeing Support Volunteer every week. In this role I help support autistic people to find ways to help manage their mental health. My employer understands how important volunteering is and supports me to do this by giving all employees 5 paid days off to Volunteer and also allows me to work longer days so that she I take one day off per week to volunteer as well. I am also Neurodivergent, having recently been diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. I am passionate about making sure that other people with similar conditions can have the same opportunities as everyone else. "

"I mainly works from home on her laptop. I will start my day replying to emails and make up a plan for what I need/want to do that day. I might help to address some recently reported safety issues and arrange for those to be fixed, then plan a visit out to site to go and check on some equipment and meet up with the local teams who look after it to get their views. I might have meetings with project teams who are talking about new equipment or systems that they are planning to bring in or I might find and make some reports on how things are going. Each day tends to be different and there is a lot of things that I get to choose to do. I can look to see where I can make things better and do it. I get to go into the office as well as going out onto different sites across the eastern side of England too. There is lots of different things that keep the job interesting for me. "

"I completed Network Rails' Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme. The scheme was 3 years of work and study and included a few months of residential training in the first year. I got a useful mix of qualifications including BTEC Level 3 in Engineering Operations and NVQ Level 3 in Performing Railway Engineering Operations that gave me both the skills and the knowledge to do the job. I spent time working as a Telecoms Maintenance Technician which helped me learn more about the equipment and systems too. "