Meet Ahalya, a Mechanical Engineering Graduate

Location: Devonport, Plymouth

Sector/Business unit: Marine

My graduate programme, why I chose it and why I chose Babcock:

Towards the end of my master’s degree, I developed an interest in the defence industry. I was eager to contribute to impactful, large-scale projects and apply some of the areas of mechanical engineering which I had enjoyed the most, such as FEA (Finite Element Analysis) software and thermodynamic principles. After researching various opportunities, Babcock’s graduate programme stood out to me as a place where I could not only pursue these interests but also get involved in unique projects within the marine and nuclear sectors.

Babcock’s commitment to professional development also appealed to me. They encourage graduates to gain chartership, providing each with a mentor from their discipline and membership in a professional institution.

My favourite part of the programme:

The biggest draw of the graduate programme for me was the ability to rotate through different placements. As I approach the end of the programme, I’ve really enjoyed experiencing a variety of business units and taking on roles ranging from Design to Project Management. The diversity of roles and projects has helped me develop my skillset and understanding of the business, which has been supported by the many new people I’ve met and learned from. This in turn has helped me feel more confident in deciding what kind of role to move into at the end of the programme.

The placements I’ve been on also offered opportunities for travel, such as weekly trips to our Bristol site and a trip to Poland for in-person meetings with a team we’d been working with virtually.

My most rewarding project/experience:

During one of my placements, I led a project to improve a meter cover for a delicate handheld sensor. This involved refining the design, as well as investigating and testing different materials and geometries that would be suitable – it was a great opportunity to utilise the 3D printers.

Six months after leaving this placement, I was representing a new team at a Babcock outreach event for the community in Plymouth. By chance, my former team were also there, using the meters with my cover design to demonstrate their work. It was extremely rewarding to hear that my design was performing significantly better over time compared to the previous ones and had become the standard case used across the department. As changing placements sometimes means not seeing the long-term results of our work, it was very satisfying to learn how my contribution had considerably upgraded the quality of equipment used, leading to improved efficiency for crucial processes.

My work-life balance:

Most teams I’ve been in have had monthly socials, ranging from dinner and drinks to activities like bowling or paintballing. These socials are a nice way to get to know the team better, which is helpful when you’re moving through placements regularly. The team Christmas social is always good fun too!

In addition, there’s normally a weekly check-in with your manager where you can discuss your wellbeing and tasks for the week, and they can provide any extra support if needed.

My development:

Graduates at Babcock are supported by mentors who are allocated upon joining. My mentor has been incredibly helpful, providing guidance both for working towards chartership and for my general professional development within the company. Moreover, most people I’ve worked with have been very approachable and supportive, which has helped me make the most out of my placements.

There are also opportunities for graduates to attend events such as conferences, courses, or training sessions. These events provide great learning opportunities and can highlight ideas that can be implemented in the team or wider business to support continuous improvement. I look forward to exploring this further as I move into my role at the end of the programme.