b'10 Partner News Autumn 2021AcademicRebecca engineers a rewarding career with a Degree ApprenticeshipWatching her dad build a playhouse in theher knowledge and experience of theright direction and we are starting to really garden of the family home at age three,sector and teamed up with the Universitymake our mark in engineering!armed with a handful of plastic tools readyof Sunderland, which has a successful to join in, Rebecca Henry knew even backtrack-record in developing highly-skilledGrowing up watching Formula 1 Racing on then that creating something useful foremployees through its Engineering Degreetelevision alongside her family, Rebecca, others was all she wanted to do. Apprenticeship. from Newcastle, cites Bernadette Collins, a senior strategy engineer for Racing Now, aged 24, shes fulfilling thoseAs one of a new generation of femalePoint Force India Formula One Team, as a early ambitionsignited by her dadengineers, Rebecca is now hoping hermajor inspiration. Collins start at McLaren Simon, a joiner, and grandfather John,journey will inspire other young women toRacing laid the foundation for her future a tool makerthrough an Engineeringtake the leap into what was a traditionallyin motorsports and she has since been Degree Apprenticeship at the Universitymale-dominated industry, which shea substantial role model for young girls of Sunderland this year, supported inbelieves can now offer so much as a career. wanting to work in the profession.partnership with her employer Tharsus.People just assumed engineering wasBernadette has worked with great drivers Rebecca began her apprenticeship afteronly for men, and it was unheard of thatover the years such as Jensen Button, completing her A-Levels, as a technicalwomen could progress in this industry,and she made me realise that women can officer six-years ago in the manufacturingsays Rebecca. But thats changing now.achieve remarkable things in this industry, division of Northumberland-based Tharsus,The stigma is lifting, and more women aresays Rebecca.now one of the UKs largest manufacturerschoosing a pathway through engineering of commercial robots.and STEM, and are excelling. My dad and grandad have also been a huge influence on me. I remember standing Recognising her passion for the engineeringShe adds: At Tharsus, year on year, sincein the garden with my plastic tools trying to industry, Tharsus wanted to supportI began, more female engineers are nowhelp my dad build that playhouse, it ignited Rebeccas ambitions to further strengthencoming through, its definitely moving in thethat desire to pursue a career where I can'