Gabrielle Lloyd – STEGTA Excellence Award Winner 2022
We would like to Congratulate Gabrielle Lloyd who is employed by CarnaudMetalbox Engineering, as she has been awarded a STEGTA Excellence Award for Outstanding Performance in Mechanical Engineering.
Gabrielle is currently working towards the Level 3 Engineering Fitter Standard and we asked her why she chose a career in mechanical engineering:
(Left image: Gabrielle pictured with Adam Clerkin, Head of Operations and STEGTA Training Officer Chris English).
(Right image: Gabrielle with CarnaudMetalbox Engineering Training Manager, Leon Slingsby).
“I never really knew what I wanted to do as a career, but I knew I wanted a hands on career and that I enjoyed making things and seeing a design concept through to the manufacturing stage – product design was always my favourite subject in school. I took engineering as an A Level and decided that I loved it when I began my work experience once a week, where I decided to undertake an apprenticeship instead of taking the university route.
Throughout my apprenticeship I have felt incredibly supported by both my employer and STEGTA. I have felt as though my Training Officer has always been supportive and is always willing to take the time out of their day to help me with work. My team leaders have always been supportive with me and helped me integrate into a male dominated working environment with ease.
Although the support is there when needed and frequent reviews are in place to ensure we are on top of work – both my employer and STEGTA allow the apprentices a lot of freedom in terms of learning. I think this is very important as lots of people learn in different ways and I feel it has prepared us well for the working world.
For me, I would say that the most enjoyable part of my role is being able to see the product of all the hard work. I find it very satisfying going home knowing that my days work has meant something and that I am a valued member of the company. With my role, no day is the same and there are always different problems that require different innovative solutions. I also owe a lot of this to the great people I work with and the support my company has given me along the way.
At the minute, I don’t have any projects that I am working on outside of my job role – however, I am very proud of myself being able to manage my time well with work and studies and I currently only have 2 units left until I have completed my HNC. I am also very happy to have received this award from STEGTA, I’m very much a perfectionist and I’m not very good at recognising when I have done something well – however, I think the recognition of the work I have put in through my apprenticeship has really helped with my confidence – one of the many things I owe to STEGTA.
Both my employer and STEGTA have been very encouraging so far with pushing me to complete qualifications. I am currently working on my HNC in Mechanical Engineering – as for further qualifications, I am hoping to complete an HND and a degree and potentially further if possible.”