College alumni follows in her dad’s engineering footsteps

A former Sunderland College apprentice, who was inspired by her dad to pursue her passion for engineering, is now hoping to blaze a trail for other budding female engineers.

Holly Herron, from Washington, was just a young child when her interest in engineering was first sparked by her father Paul, who served with the Royal Engineers before working at Scania.

She took to engineering like a duck to water and enjoyed solving complex problems and puzzles. In secondary school, Holly took engineering as one of her GCSEs, giving her the opportunity to use lathes and milling machines, as well as developing her woodwork skills.

The 22-year-old, who is now studying a BEng (Hons) Manufacturing Engineering apprenticeship at University of Sunderland, said: “I first realised I was interested in engineering around the age of 12 through my dad. He has always worked in engineering, and I would often help him out with projects inside and outside the house.

“I enjoy tackling challenges and finding innovative solutions. The problem-solving aspect of engineering can be highly rewarding.

“Completing engineering projects, overcoming challenges, and seeing the successful implementation of solutions on machines can provide a strong sense of achievement. This sense of accomplishment is a driving force for me in engineering.”

Holly began working at ZF Automotive in Peterlee in 2018 as part of a five-year apprenticeship at Sunderland College. After receiving a Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing and an HNC in Engineering, she was able to stay on and progress at the company after starting her degree apprenticeship at the University in October 2023.

She added: “After school I looked at engineering apprenticeships and ZF was recruiting for a maintenance apprentice. It really aligned with my passion for complex parts and fixing things, so I applied and was successful.

“At first it was quite nerve-wracking, coming into a male dominated environment, but everyone was great and have been so supportive throughout my apprenticeship.”

Mid-way through her apprenticeship at the university Holly has already landed a permanent role as a maintenance technician, responsible for equipment inspection and testing the machines to identify potential issues or signs of wear as well as conducting tests to ensure proper functionality and performance.

Holly said: “There are many different aspects to engineering such as design and development, structural, transport, biomedical, testing and much more.

“I believe more women and girls should be encouraged to pursue a career in engineering as I think they are missing out on huge opportunities and the stigma of engineering being a “man’s job” should be broken.”

When asked how her dad Paul feels about her engineering success, Holly said: “My dad is very proud that I decided to go against the grain and start a career that is predominantly male.

“I’m very grateful for all my dad’s support and encouragement throughout my engineering career. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be in the position I am now.”

And Holly’s advice to anyone thinking of studying for an engineering apprenticeship is to go for it.

She said: “This real-world exposure is invaluable in developing practical skills and applying theoretical knowledge. Having a mentor and experienced professionals guiding me has contributed to my learning and skill development. Their insights, feedback, and advice have been crucial for my growth in the industry.”

Holly will graduate in 2025 and has ambitions to climb the managerial ladder and explore the different areas of engineering, in particular biomedical engineering.

To find out more about apprenticeships with Sunderland College, please click here. Apprenticeships – Sunderland College