Madeleine Warburton, Wind Turbine Technician

What I do

My role involves getting in a boat and sailing out to wind turbines that are in the sea. I carry out checks and repairs on the turbines and make sure they’re working properly, so they continue to generate renewable electricity.

To do this, I need to climb up inside the turbines, which are at least 83 metres high! It’s hard work, but it’s also exciting, varied, hands-on and very rewarding. It’s great knowing that my work helps generate renewable electricity, and that I’m helping to make the country and the world a greener place.

How I became a technician

I became interested in renewable energy in Year 10 when we learnt about it at school. I then did a week of work experience at Siemens Energy. After my GCSEs, I took A-Levels - maths, further maths, physics and engineering.

How I became a technician

I applied to some universities, but then I saw the Offshore Wind Turbine Technician apprenticeship at RWE. I went for it and I'm so glad I did!

How I became a technician

My apprenticeship combines hands-on training alongside learning the theory. It’s given me fantastic experience. Now I'm in my third year, working full-time on offshore wind farms.

A typical day in my working life

My day starts at 7am with a meeting to discuss weather conditions and if it’s safe to go out to sea. If it is, we load our equipment onto a boat and sail to the turbines, which takes about 45 minutes. When we get there, we climb aboard and begin work .

A typical day in my working life

The jobs we need to do varies, but it’s often things like checking oil levels, taking samples, or carrying out repairs. For safety, we work in teams, always helping each other out. After finishing our tasks, we tidy up, lower our equipment back onto the boat and return to shore around 5:30pm.

A typical day in my working life

Sometimes we need to stay at sea for two weeks at a time. When we do this, we live together on a large boat that travels between turbines, and we work from 7am to 7pm (with breaks!).

The skills I use most

Trust and communication are essential. I rely on my teammates completely, if someone hurts themselves or there’s an emergency (like needing to evacuate in bad weather), we need to communicate and act quickly.

Sometimes I need to figure out why something isn’t working, and use my logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Attention to detail is important as well. We’re always on the lookout for small issues, fixing them before they become bigger problems. I have to be calm under pressure too, making sure I always act safely.

It’s great knowing that my work helps generate renewable electricity, and that I’m helping to make the country and the world a greener place.

Don’t worry about doing something different from other people, those unique opportunities can lead to fantastic career paths.

A little more about my everyday role

The best part of working in a team

Teamwork is vital, we rely heavily on each other, especially as we’re working in such an isolated place. We usually work in twos or threes, though some tasks need bigger groups. We trust each other and work together to solve problems quickly. There's a great community spirit. During a two-week stint at sea, we have lots of social time together on the boat, such as having evening meals together, exercising, or just hanging out and playing games.

What I like to do in my spare time

I've always enjoyed being creative and practical. From a young age, I've helped my dad run his business, creating garden sculptures out of sheet aluminium and artwork out of recycled drinks cans . It taught me skills like product development and public speaking at craft fairs. I also play hockey for my local team, which keeps me fit and connected to the community. I'm a Guide leader too. I’m working towards my Queen’s Guide award, where I’ve been creating activities to inspire younger girls about science and engineering.

My school days

I was pleased that the GCSEs I chose included lots of practical coursework rather than exams. My favourite subject was engineering. I love hands-on learning and my school had a great engineering department. For my A-Level engineering coursework I designed a children's roundabout which generated electricity as it spun. I also got involved in STEM Racing, where I created a model Formula 1 car powered by pressurised carbon dioxide. Our team got to the national finals, it was an amazing learning experience!

What’s the most exciting thing you’ve achieved in your job?

My proudest achievement has been competing in the WorldSkills competition for renewable energy. WorldSkills is like the 'Olympics for skills', bringing together young professionals from all around the world. They compete in areas from renewable energy to hairdressing. I'm among the final three competing for a chance to represent the UK in the WorldSkills finals in Shanghai. If I get to go, I’ll be up against technicians from countries like China, Japan, Brazil and South Africa. I've already learnt so much and met lots of amazing people - it’s been an incredible journey!

The advice I’d give to someone younger

Seize every opportunity you can find, even if it seems unusual. Try online experiences, find mentors, and get involved in organisations like the Stemettes or Smallpeice Trust. Don’t worry about doing something different from other people, those unique opportunities can lead to fantastic career paths. Trust yourself, explore your interests, and don’t hesitate to try new things!