Why I Started Engineer a Career, What We've Built, and How We Fix the Skills System Gap

Starting Engineer a Career was never about creating content. It was about closing a gap I kept seeing everywhere across industry, a gap between the talent we have and the opportunities that never reach them.

In this first solo episode, Josh reflects on his own journey: from a chartered mechanical engineer shaped by internships at Doosan Babcock, to building engineering teams on nuclear projects, to working in sustainability at SSE Transmission.

He shares how early exposure to real engineering transformed his career, why mentoring young engineers became a natural part of his path, and how those experiences laid the foundations of Engineer a Career.

Josh breaks down what's happened since launching the platform:

thirty podcast episodes, ten live events, strategic partnerships with AECOM, the University of Strathclyde and the Energy Institute, a national Student Ambassador Network, and the creation of The Talent Network, now home to more than 170 engineering students.

But this episode goes deeper.

Josh explains why the UK's "skills gap" is really a system gap:

124,000 engineers needed every year, 44,000 graduating, and too few gaining any real exposure to industry. He shares the stats, the stories, and the reality facing students today, as well as the opportunity engineering has to rethink early engagement.

In the mailbox, Josh answers questions from the Engineer a Career community, from using LinkedIn well, to overcoming imposter syndrome, to what he wishes he'd known at university.

This episode is a reflection, a call to action, and a reminder of why this work matters.

It's about building confidence, creating visibility, and showing the next generation exactly what they can become.

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A fascination with the world beneath our feet sparked Lucy's journey into geology.

Encouraged by an inspiring geography teacher, she explored the subject through university taster courses and went on to study at the University of St Andrews, where hands-on fieldwork in Scotland's quarries and landscapes cemented her passion for understanding the ground we build on.

After graduating, Lucy discovered how geology meets engineering. She joined Fairhurst as a Graduate Engineering Geologist, where her work took her from Scotland's infrastructure projects to the remote island of St Helena, helping to make communities safer through rockfall mitigation.

Now a Chartered Engineer and Senior Geotechnical Engineer at Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions, Lucy reflects on her career so far, from overcoming early challenges to championing women in engineering and mentoring the next generation.

In this episode, Josh and Lucy explore what makes engineering geology such a vital part of sustainable construction, why confidence comes through action, and how curiosity can shape a lifelong career in engineering.

This is a story of discovery, determination, and how following your interests can quite literally change the ground you stand on.

Resources mentioned -

The role of engineering geology in delivering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357755266_The_role_of_engineering_geology_in_delivering_the_United_Nations_Sustainable_Development_Goals

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Leaving school with no qualifications could have been the end of Faye's story but it was only the beginning.

Starting on a factory floor, she watched engineers fix problems and realised she wanted to be one of them. Determined to change her future, Faye worked days in manufacturing and studied at night, earning nine GCSEs before securing an electrical engineering apprenticeship.

Five years later, she had built the foundations of a career that would take her across manufacturing, water, and energy and ultimately to the Royal Academy of Engineering as a Visiting Professor and Research Committee Member.

In this special National Engineering Day episode, Josh and Faye discuss visibility, opportunity, and the power of finding your passion. They explore how apprenticeships, education, and industry must work together to inspire the next generation of engineers and why there's never been a more exciting time to join the profession.

This is a story of confidence found through action, of perseverance, and of proving that there's no single route into engineering.

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Dyslexia made traditional learning difficult, but time spent in his grandfather's workshop and a single school project sparked a lifelong passion for engineering. Neill's path began with an NC in Mechanical Engineering at North Glasgow College, followed by his HNC and HND. This was all after a series of early rejections that could have stopped him in his tracks.

Neill went on to earn a cadetship with Zodiac Maritime, spending six months at sea before joining Expedite and later Babcock International.

Today, at SSE Renewables, Neill works on wind and solar projects that power communities and drive the clean energy transition.

Together, Josh and Neill explore the importance of resilience, continuous learning, and doing what you love even when the route isn't straightforward. This is a story for anyone who's ever been told "no" but kept going anyway.

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Rob Bell joins Josh to explore the engineering mindset. Curiosity. Problem solving. The joy of figuring out how things work and how to make them better. Rob shares how a hands on childhood and parents who fixed everything set him on a path to mechanical engineering at the University of Bath, a year in Annecy, and eventually a career in broadcasting that opens secret doors into the world's most fascinating projects.

Together they unpack what makes engineering everywhere. Aircraft checks that strip a 747 to the bones. The teamwork that runs a submarine. How Tower Bridge blends old and new. Why the title engineer is held differently across countries. And why more engineers means more innovators.

Rob also talks about filming at nuclear power stations and his trip to ITER in France, where the global fusion effort is taking shape. If you are a student or early career listener, you will hear simple, practical advice. Follow what makes time fly for you. Build your network. Say yes, then learn fast.

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Welcome to The Engineer a Career Podcast!

In this episode, Josh is joined by Andrew Aveyard, Energy Sector Lead at The University of Edinburgh.

Listen now as Andrew shares his career journey into engineering and how he has built a career both within industry and academia, particularly focusing on the energy sector.

Josh and Andrew discuss the skills gap across UK engineering, the untapped technologies that could prove to be key on the UK's journey to a more sustainable future and how innovation is part of Andrew's vision for the future of energy.

Join Engineer a Career for a conversation about possibility, opportunity and exploration.

Welcome to The Engineer a Career Podcast, Andrew Aveyard.

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Welcome to The Engineer a Career Podcast!

In this episode, Josh is joined by Alessandra Triscari, a Trainee Building Services Engineer at Survey Design Consult and an engineering student at the University of Strathclyde.

Alessandra shares her passion for engineering and her journey from Sicily to Glasgow, studying at New College Lanarkshire and now at the University of Strathclyde.

Alessandra is proving that it's possible to contribute to industry while studying, proving that curiosity and drive can open opportunities.

Join Engineer a Career for a conversation about possibility, opportunity and exploration.

Welcome to The Engineer a Career Podcast, Alessandra Triscari.

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Welcome to The Engineer a Career Podcast!

In this episode, Josh is joined by Stuart Thomas, a Stress Engineer at Rolls Royce.

Stuart reflects on his journey into engineering, from the early challenge of struggling to secure his first job after graduation, to building the skills and experience that led him into a career where he now applies his university developed skills every day.

Join Engineer a Career for a conversation about resilience, growth, and finding your place in the industry.

Welcome to The Engineer a Career Podcast, Stuart Thomas.

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Welcome to The Engineer a Career Podcast.

In this episode, Josh is joined by Ella Podmore MBE Material Engineering Manager at McLaren Automotive.

Ella shares her career journey so far, from her time at The University of Manchester studying Materials Engineering to becoming one of the UK's leading engineering communicators.

Welcome to The Engineer a Career Podcast, Ella Podmore.

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Welcome to The Engineer a Career Podcast!

Our next guest is Imogen Wright, Project Manager at Hescott Engineering.

Imogen's career is built on a strong technical foundation in CAD and a drive to deliver complex engineering projects.

From starting as a trainee draughtsperson to becoming a Project Manager at Hescott Engineering, Imogen has developed skillsets that combine hands-on design expertise with project leadership across nuclear, defence, oil & gas, rail, and infrastructure.

In this episode, join Josh as he explores Imogen's continuous learning, resilience, and willingness to embrace new challenges.

Imogen has shaped her own journey and in this episode she offers an insight into lessons shes learned.

If you're a student or early career engineer looking to find your path, listen now!

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Series 2 Sponsor – AECOM (www.aecom.com)

Podcast Advert – Powering Futures (www.poweringfutures.com)