Amber Wykes

Amber on track to continue family engineering legacy

For Amber Wykes, engineering runs in the family. Inspired by her dad and grandfather, who both worked as engineers, Amber turned her interests in maths and product design into a future career by studying a Mechanical Engineering T Level at Leicester College.

After achieving a Distinction, Amber has already progressed into the engineering industry and is continuing to develop her skills and qualifications.

Inspired by a family of engineers

Amber’s interest in engineering developed through a combination of her family background and the subjects she enjoyed at school.

“My dad and his dad were both engineers, so I grew up around engineering. I also really enjoyed maths and had a product design teacher who helped develop my interest in the subject.”

The variety of opportunities available within engineering also appealed to Amber, giving her the chance to explore different areas before deciding which direction she wanted to take her career.

Putting theory into practice

Throughout the T Level, Amber developed both the technical knowledge and practical skills required to work within the engineering industry.

She particularly enjoyed the second year, when the course became more practically focused.

“There was a good balance between theory and practical learning, but I really enjoyed the second year because we got to do more practical work. It helped solidify what we had learnt and gave us the chance to put the theory into practice.”

Amber also valued learning from tutors who had first-hand experience of working within engineering.

“The tutors had all worked in the industry, so they were really helpful. They could bring their own experience into what they were teaching us.”

Experiencing engineering in the workplace

A key part of Amber’s T Level was her industry placement at RSG Engineering, where she experienced their work in precision machinery.

The company produces small components for the rail industry giving Amber an insight into how engineering operates in a professional environment.

The placement helped confirm that engineering was the right career path for Amber and gave her valuable experience to take into the workplace. 

Building a career in engineering

Since completing her T Level, Amber has progressed directly into the industry and is currently working for Hinckley-based employer, Irideum while studying General Engineering at the University of Lincoln through work release.

She plans to continue developing her qualifications by progressing to Level 5 and Level 6 study alongside her career.

For students deciding between T Levels and a more traditional academic route, Amber believes the practical experience offered by the qualification is a major advantage.

“T Levels can give you more opportunities to gain practical experience than A Levels. You have to work hard and don’t be afraid to ask questions, because the tutors are there to help you.”