b'24 Member News November 2022VolunteersThomas sets a fine exampleThomas Sutherland MIET left school with few qualifications and no clear career path. He went on to become the IET Apprentice of the Year 2019, an outstanding engineering employee and a committed IET volunteer with a very bright future.At school, Thomas dreamed of joiningComing through an apprenticeship,Thomas Sutherland MIETa Formula One pit crew and doing aThomas didnt really have a great deal of motor sport engineering degree. Hisexperience outside Leonardo. The YPCPushing for greater hopes were dashed when he wasgave him invaluable experience of working collaboratively with others from outsideaccessibilitywrongly advised that the degree would be pointless. This shockinghis organisation.Thomas believes that his most piece of advice had a profound effectHe said:valuable volunteer asset is the on Thomashe completely lost focusunconventional path he had to take, and failed many of his exams. to build his career in engineering. He said: Becoming an apprentice had Engineering apprenticeship a major impact on me. Individuals Working with the YPCin a similar position resonate with Following a series of unfulfilling part- gave me the chance to seethismy story proves its possible time roles, the turning point came whento succeed in engineering.Thomas secured a four year technicaldedicated individuals exuding apprenticeship in engineering systems,the IETs values [Integrity,Im always trying to push for greater combining working for Leonardo withaccessibility to engineering careers studying at Edinburgh College.Excellence and Teamwork] infor people from different backgrounds. everything they do. Not everyone gets straight As in He went on to win two major awards intheir exams, and the path sometimes 2019: Leonardo Apprentice of the Yearisnt clear if youve fallen off the most and IET Apprentice of the Year. Winningcommon routes into engineering.gave me the confidence in my own abilityHe followed their exampleon the YPC, to achieve and further my own goals. Itas a YP Ambassador and by sharing hisPresenting to the IET Board of Trustees definitely gave my career a massive boost,industry contacts with his universitysat IET London: Savoy Place was a big he said.Engineering Society. personal achievement. I told them my apprentice story and contributed to a Active volunteer Meteoric rise session focused on how the IET can do more for apprentices and technicians. I Thomas then joined the IET YoungThomas completed his BEng degreereally felt that I was able to put my key Professionals Committee (YPC) for a twoin electronics at Edinburgh Napierpoints across to decision makers and year stint as the Apprentice Representative.University this summer. Leonardo hasinfluence the next step of the journey.He provided an apprentice/technicianpromoted him from Hardware EngineerGoing forward, Id like to continue viewpoint on future YP initiatives,to Senior Electronic Engineer, and heto help the IET and companies who challenged the IET to keep adding value foris now working on the processes andare actively widening access to apprentice members and was the IET pointprocedures behind the development ofengineering.of contact for apprentices and technicians. next generation radar systems.Read more at: theiet.org/meet-our-volunteers'