“You’re given responsibility to solve problems, which helps you realise what you’re capable of. And your mentors are always there for guidance and advice.”
Sophie studied Mechanical Engineering at University. After joining the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars graduate scheme, she became a liaison engineer for Germany and the UK.
“I enjoy this role because I get a great overview of everything that goes on. I work with all the different production functions and meet lots of different people.”
The tight knit culture of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is what attracted Sophie to apply to the graduate scheme. She was looking for a hands-on career, where she could play an influential role in the future of the business and its products.
“Working somewhere that’s smaller means you get to play a bigger part in developing the product. Even though there are a lot of employees, there’s a real family feel to the business. We’re all really close and I get to come in every day and work with my friends.”
During her time on the graduate scheme, Sophie was also able to spend nine months in Germany on placement, where she travelled around Europe with other engineers to meet suppliers and learn from experts.
“Working abroad has been really useful in terms of helping me develop my network, understanding the processes across different countries and being exposed to different cultures and ways of working. It helped me grow in confidence.”
Throughout her journey, Sophie is supported every step of the way. From exploring different functions, to working abroad and taking on responsibility, she is empowered to discover her potential.
“Here, you can make your role what you want. You can make requests and tailor it to do more of what you love. You’re given the responsibility to solve problems, which helps you realise what you’re capable of, but have mentors to go to for guidance and advice. We each have our own personal development plan and have the flexibility to explore new opportunities.”