Charanjeet Singh Mander
Engineering his way to the top
Charanjeet Singh Mander studied the Level 3 Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Leicester College between 2016 and 2018. Today, he is a Quality and Technical Manager at Bodycote in Derby, where he works within a specialist heat treatment facility and is building towards his ambition of reaching senior management.
Charanjeet has always had an interest in engineering and credits Leicester College with giving him the practical experience, technical knowledge and confidence to take the next steps in his career.
Choosing Leicester College
Charanjeet had always known that he wanted to pursue engineering, but Leicester College offered an alternative to the traditional A-level route that suited the way he wanted to learn.
“I’ve always been interested in engineering. Leicester College gave me the opportunity to develop my knowledge through a hands-on course rather than taking A levels. It gave me a really good understanding of both the practical and theoretical sides of engineering.”
The College’s dedicated engineering facilities and convenient location also made it an attractive choice.
A supportive learning environment
Looking back, Charanjeet remembers the support he received from his tutors and the opportunities available to help him plan his future.
“The tutors were great. I still remember many of my engineering teachers today and the impact they had on me.”
As part of his time at Leicester College, Charanjeet was encouraged to think about what he wanted to do after completing his course, whether that meant going to university or pursuing an apprenticeship.
He also benefited from regular meetings with a learning coach, who helped him think about his future and provided guidance beyond his studies. Later, Charanjeet became a peer mentor himself, supporting younger students during his third year.
The College also organised opportunities for students to hear directly from university students from the University of Leicester and De Montfort University, as well as sessions on CV writing and career planning.
“Now that I’m further into my career, I really appreciate those opportunities. At the time, you don’t always realise how valuable they are.”
Charanjeet also had the opportunity to spend time at De Montfort University through an experience organised by Leicester College, which helped him understand what university could offer and supported his university applications.
Developing skills for a career in engineering
During his course, Charanjeet gained a combination of technical and transferable skills that he continues to use today.
“The course taught me teamwork, technical skills and to be more curious about how things work.”
Practical projects, including work involving circuit boards, gave him the opportunity to apply the theory he was learning and develop his problem-solving skills.
After leaving Leicester College in 2018, Charanjeet went on to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leicester, completing a four-year degree which included a year in industry.
His university experience opened up further opportunities as he became involved with the University of Leicester’s student-run Formula Student racing team, UoL Racing, gaining hands-on experience in the technical and competitive side of motorsport. The team designs and builds its own race car before competing against student teams from universities across the country. His involvement included scrutineering, where cars are inspected to ensure they meet the required technical and safety standards before competing.
Building a career in engineering
Charanjeet is now Quality and Technical Manager at Bodycote in Derby, working within a specialist heat treatment facility serving the aerospace industry.
His role involves overseeing quality management systems, working with vacuum heat treatment processes, carrying out supplier audits and working with standards and certification, including BSI requirements.
One of the aspects he enjoys most about his career is investigating problems and finding their underlying causes.
“I really enjoy investigations and finding the root cause. It’s about understanding why something has happened and working out how you can prevent it from happening again.”
Charanjeet’s career has also given him the opportunity to meet some inspiring people. One of his proudest achievements since leaving Leicester College was being recognised for his outstanding performance and having the opportunity to meet renowned broadcaster and natural historian, Sir David Attenborough.
For Charanjeet, choosing engineering has been a rewarding career decision.
“I’m really glad I chose engineering. It keeps your curiosity alive and it’s incredibly rewarding. It can be difficult to get into, but my education pushed me towards what I wanted to do. I wouldn’t do anything differently.”
Charanjeet’s advice to Leicester College students
Charanjeet would definitely recommend Leicester College to anyone considering a similar career path.
His advice to current students is to make the most of every opportunity and service available to them.
“Use all the services the College provides. Make the most of CV writing support, careers fairs and work experience. They can help you build a base for yourself and give you a much better understanding of what you want to do next.”