Lucy Macadam

"I received the Coach, Influencer and Trainer personality types.Being a 'coach' is a very useful quality to have as an Engineer, especially if you want to progress into leadership further on in your career. Engineers rarely work alone and will often work in teams towards achieving a common goal. Therefore it is incredibly useful to be able to listen to, support, and encourage a wide range of people.As an 'influencer' you will make a great addition to any engineering team. Attention to detail and the ability to process and convey information is very beneficial. This will help others in your team and is a great quality for a leader to have. It is important to understand that not everyone will want a leadership or managerial role in their career, but will still want to support and help others to achieve. A 'trainer' does exactly that. Trainers are very understanding people, they are great at helping others understand complex information and sharing knowledge. They are also focussed, organised and efficient and will make a great asset to any engineering team. "

"As a Mechanical Engineer at the Environment Agency, I work on a wide range of projects, mainly in Flood and Coastal Risk Management. Mechanical Engineers in Flood and Coastal Risk Management typically support projects to prevent flooding such as installing flood prevention barriers like the Thames Barrier, or maintaining sluice gates in rivers to stop towns from flooding after heavy rainfall.The thing I enjoy most about my job is the fact that it has such an impact on people's lives. The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent - sea levels are rising and we are experiencing more extreme weather conditions. Therefore working in any form of Environmental Engineering is very crucial at present, in order to tackle climate change, and it is a very rewarding field to be in. The starting salary for my role is fairly typical for an engineer working in the public sector and as of 2019 it was roughly £26,000. "

"My current job as a Mechanical Engineer at the Environment Agency is the first job I have worked in since graduating from University! However, whilst at University I completed a summer placement at the Engineering Consultancy AECOM and a year long placement at another Engineering Consultancy, Mott Macdonald. It is very important to try and get work experience throughout your education and journey to becoming an Engineer. This can start small such as a weeks long work experience during the school holidays with a family friend or a small local engineering firm. Then progress in to placements over the summer holidays and work schemes in higher education. Regardless of the route you take, I think it is very important to try working in a few different companies or sectors so that when it comes to choosing a career, you are making a much more informed decision. "

"A lot of my spare time is spent outdoors and keeping active. I love swimming, including a bit of wild swimming in lakes a rivers nearby! Most weekends (weather permitting...) I go on a long cycle ride to try and explore new areas. I've also recently tried to get into running, I'm not loving it at the moment but who knows, maybe if I get more into it a Triathlon may be on the horizon! "

"My typical day involves replying to emails and having several telephone calls or meetings to discuss the progress of projects I am currently working on with the rest of the team. I usually go on site visits a couple of times a fortnight for reasons such as to observe construction works or attend routine maintenance. I also have lots of time for personal development for example attending training courses and working on my application to become a Chartered Mechanical Engineer. "

"After getting my GCSEs, I went to college and got 3 A Levels in Maths, Further Maths and Physics. I then went to the University of Leeds to study for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. I graduated in 2019. "