Success for Black Engineers

“Coming into this work experience, I had a few hours of experience behind the 3D printer, however I greatly lacked in essential knowledge that left my skill subpar in important areas. Coming into this weeks work experience, my tutor, Kawal Rhode and I already had experience with one another, with him also being my tutor on Sundays, where he would give free lessons regarding GCSE level combined and separate science. Despite only giving him an hour of my week, he helped elevate my grade to a boundary I was content and proud of, with my mock results reflecting this sentiment, going all the way to a 7-7 before my real GCSE(which at the time I do not know my results, but I can confidently regard as my best science papers to date). This work experience was no different in this accelerated advancement. Skills and knowledge I had before grew tenfold as I began to understand all the aspects of not only 3d printing, but 3d modelling, 3d aspects in biomedical engineering and countless software that I went from not knowing even existed, to being confidently able to navigate and utilise them to the best of my ability. As well as this, his students helped guide us and, despite having qualms in surrendering a week of my rest from GCSE stress to spend at school, I could not be happier than I made the decision to come here. The skills I learnt here will be used for many years to come, as well as almost immediately, as I enter sixth form. This week will take so much unneeded stress off my shoulders when it comes to learning in the new year I will embark on, and I am ecstatic that I decided to take the risk. ”

“The peer-to-peer mentoring was a game changer. It helped me realize I wasn’t alone in how I felt—whether it was about classes, the stress of life after university, or my workload. Ryan, my peer mentor, did an amazing job. He was a few years ahead of me, so he understood exactly what I was going through. His advice and just knowing he was there helped me build confidence. My academic mentor, Prof. Kawal, played a different but equally important role. He guided me through the application process for Masters and PhD programs, offering advice and making sure I didn’t make any mistakes that could cost me opportunities. Thanks to his support, I received offers for Medical Physics at Oxford, UCL, and a PhD at King’s. I mean, that’s impressive—not to toot my own horn!”

a. How did the mentoring programme support your career development?

The mentoring programme has inspired me to think carefully about what I want out of a career, what my non-negotiables are and to take steps towards these. I have also been encouraged to believe in my abilities, received interview advice and practice and learnt from the experiences and stories of people in industry.

b. Did the mentoring programme help you build a sense of community and expand your social network?

It certainly did. I feel better connected to others in our school, especially those in the years above me or already working. Their wisdom and advice have been so helpful. It’s like having a family of older and younger ‘academic or professional’ siblings. My mentor offered me advice regarding a job application and also put me in contact with others to help me.

c. What have you enjoyed most about the programme?

I have enjoyed making new connections the most. Be that through the mentoring programme, the networking sessions, the gaming socials or working with the S.F.B.S team to set up these events. It’s lovely getting to meet other students and professionals and hearing about their experiences. It has been a blessing and a privilege to learn from others. They are so kind, supportive and willing to help those around them and pass on their expertise.

“Participating in the Success for Black Students programme, I gained invaluable knowledge and experience from attending events, speaking to industry professionals, and participating in skill workshops. My mentor provided reliable guidance and industry-specific insights that helped me visualise a long-term professional future in engineering. They assisted me in refining my CV, preparing for interviews, and discovering opportunities. The programme provided me with a deep sense of community. It created a network grounded in support, motivation, and shared goals. Overall, this programme has helped me solidify my goals, build confidence in my abilities, and connect with like-minded people with similar goals”.

“My practical experience in planning successful events as a student event organiser has significantly boosted my confidence. The experience has allowed me to explore many different aspects of organising, including managing attendance, scheduling meetings, booking locations, and producing media content. One of the most rewarding parts of the experience was learning about many different companies, researching them, and learning about the exciting opportunities they offer students. Along with developing my skills to work in a professional setting, this experience gave me valuable team-building skills. Working with my peers to overcome challenges and bring together our ideas was exciting, and it has been a great experience for my future aspirations. Both my professional and personal development have been significantly driven by the programme. Every one of my mentors has been very supportive in navigating university life. They gave me knowledge about prospects and industry expectations in the fields I wish to work in. The help of mentors has given me more self-confidence and helped me to decide better for my future. The programme has given me the chance to network with colleagues and professionals as well as attend a range of events that have given priceless experiences that have sharpened my skills. Everyone’s continuous support in the programme has created an encouraging and inspiring environment that has let me flourish in paths I never would have imagined.”

“My mentor Edd and I went up to the Gemini Rail site in Wolverton to observe some of the reparation works being done on a fleet of trains for the company he works for. I got to see a lot of the engineering and practical applications of concepts that I’ve studied, being used behind the scenes of infrastructure that we use in everyday life. I observed the repair operations of some wear and tear done to the trains, and got to see them stripped back to some of their base systems, all the wiring and structural support etc., and some of the pain-staking work that goes into the engineering to ensure proper user safety and quality control, actually in practice. It was a fantastic experience that wouldn’t have been possible without the SFBS Programme and I would absolutely recommend taking an opportunity to visit an actual work site to get an idea of what working in industry is like, especially if you haven’t had the chance to already.”

Success For Black
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