Abigail Hall, a student at Alder Grange Sixth Form, has been busy during the recent lockdown boosting her knowledge and skills to work towards a career in design engineering.
Only 21% of women work in the engineering sector and just 12% of engineers are women, report Engineering UK 2018. However Abi has shown a drive to progress and succeed within the sector by pro-actively seeking additional learning and development opportunities.
Since the start of the lockdown period, Abi has completed courses in online security and artificial intelligence, and is currently studying for an Open University course in Design Engineering plus an additional course run by the University of York.
Meanwhile, Abi’s also been putting her new skills into practice by creating her own website and commercial Instagram page, as well as selling her design work online.
Now at the end of her final year at sixth form, Abi studied for A-levels in Art and Design, Product Design and Maths at Alder Grange Sixth Form, plus an additional ‘Design, Engineer, Construct’ course. She said:
“The teachers at Alder Grange have supported me and encouraged me to follow my dreams. They’ve challenged me, given me confidence and helped me gain the skills I’ll need.
“They also make sure courses are work relevant. ag6 is a very career—focused sixth form.”
Following the release of A-level results in the summer, Abi hopes to progress on to study Product Design Engineering at university.
Product design has long been the chosen career path for Abi, who’s been inspired by family members with engineering backgrounds.
When starting at Alder Grange Sixth Form in 2018, having previously studied at Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School, Abi was awarded an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship. The scholarship programme provides work experience opportunities and aims to inspire and nurture students set to be the country’s future leaders of the engineering profession.
Dawn Luszczak, Head of Sixth Form at Alder Grange Sixth Form, said:
“Abi is a fantastic student, who demonstrates hard-work, determination and a drive to succeed at all times. She’s an excellent role model and example to all other young women considering a career in engineering and I’m sure she has a very bright future ahead of her.”
