Mechanical Engineering Technician
Rebekah is an apprentice Mechanical Engineer at United Utilities
My job is to look after machines in a wastewater processing plant.
If something breaks, I fix or replace it. This keeps the whole process running smoothly and helps protect the environment.
I work for United Utilities, which is a company that brings clean water to homes and takes away wastewater – all the stuff that goes down your sinks and toilets.
I work on the wastewater side, helping to clean that water so it can safely go back into rivers.
Every day is different. Some days are busy and hands-on out on site, and other days are quieter, where I can focus on smaller jobs.
I like being outdoors and working with different people, including contractors.
It’s also just a really good feeling knowing I’m fixing things and keeping everything running.
Problem solving is a big part of my job. I’m constantly figuring out what’s gone wrong and how to fix it.
Communication is also really important because I’m always talking to my team or sending emails about jobs.
I use a lot of science and physics to understand how machines work and how everything fits together. Maths is important too – especially for measurements and angles.
I work in a team of about seven people, including mechanical, electrical and instrumentation engineers. We usually work in pairs or small groups, which helps keep everyone safe.
There’s a mix of experience – some people have been here for 40 years, so I’ve learnt loads from them. Everyone helps each other out, and we all bring different skills.
I really like using a grinder. It’s a tool that can cut through metal, but you can also use it to smooth rough edges and shape things.
It’s really useful and satisfying to use because you can see the result straight away.
I’m a Scout leader for Explorer Scouts, working with young people aged 14 to 17. We do loads of activities and even go on big trips – we went to Switzerland for a week.
I also like playing video games. At the moment, I’m playing a game called Satisfactory, where you build engineering systems and processes, which is perfect for me!
At school, I was quite hands-on and liked practical subjects. Outside of lessons, I was involved in Scouts and played football for a while.
I also spent time helping my dad at work during school holidays, which gave me a real insight into engineering and what the job is like.
Right now, my biggest achievement is getting through my apprenticeship assessments. I’ve passed my exam and I’m about to do my final trade test.
It’s been a long journey to get here, so finishing it feels like a massive milestone.
Even though I work with wastewater, the sites are actually much cleaner than you’d expect. You don’t always see the dirty water unless you’re working right next to it.
I’m also the first woman mechanical engineer in the wastewater team on this site. Even though I mostly work with men, I get on well with my team and I’m proud to be breaking new ground in this role and showing women can do it too.
I’m about to finish my apprenticeship, and after that I’ll become a fully qualified mechanical engineer working independently.
Don’t give up on what you want to do. Even if people tell you it’s not for you, just keep going and push for it.
It might take time, but you can get there in the end.
Discover what qualifications you’ll need, how much you can earn, and what the next steps are.
