October 2nd 1995 – my first day at Yarrow Shipbuilders, then owned by GEC Marconi. Little did I know then that thirty years later I’d still be at the same firm now owned by BAE Systems.
On my first day as a graduate (there were only two graduates that joined in 1995) we met the MD, Murray Easton, who assured us that the news of 125 job losses would be in the press but don’t worry as it won’t impact us. A few weeks later in my first placement I can remember clearly one of the guys setting to work a Malaysian frigate telling me I was an idiot to join as “this place will be shut soon. Shipbuilding is dying”.
Thirty years later and the order book has never been as healthy but the business is also going through some sizing challenges similar to when I first joined. There’s always been a cyclical boom and bust nature to shipbuilding in the UK but the current order book offers an alternative approach and a bright future.
As for what I do now, it’s very different to when I joined as a graduate Design Engineer. Despite enjoying the first six month placement in Machinery Controls and being very fortunate to work on three separate sea trials and see what our products can really do, engineering wasn’t for me and I moved into engineering systems and IT. Over the years I’ve had numerous roles and enjoyed the variety and challenges as the importance of Digital, Data and Cyber grew across the whole enterprise. I’ve also been blessed to have some great supporters who have helped my career particularly in the last 3-4 years.
Do I have regrets? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t but there’s not much I would change apart from having more belief in myself and having more ambition to move within and outwith the company. There were opportunities but I played safe. It’s certainly a message I’ve been passing on when I meet the latest graduates but introversion and imposter syndrome are part of my make up and hard to shift.
As I look back I’m filled with gratitude for the people I’ve had the privilege to work alongside, many who I now call friends, and the challenges that have stretched and ultimately kept me growing. However this isn’t an ending as there’s still much to be done and the future holds so much possibility and potential.
Here’s to the journey so far and everything still ahead.