Four years at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) have paid off for Ellie Morris, kick-starting her career with a leading UK manufacturer of automation machinery for the agricultural industry.
Working as a design engineer for Agrimech, the Mechanical Engineering graduate’s role involves visiting clients, measuring and drawing up their space and installing the machines they are interested in so they can get a feel for how their site will look and work.
The 22-year-old, who lives in Lincolnshire, said: “I’m enjoying the challenging development aspect. I have a real interest in developing products and making them better because I believe you can never achieve perfection, but you can certainly strive towards it.
“The job is an amazing opportunity as I’m being sent on various training days too, so I haven’t stopped learning and my skills are getting more advanced.
“There is also the opportunity to network at events and get up to date with the latest technologies that are never slowing down.”
Ellie, who progressed onto her degree after studying on DMU’s Engineering Year Zero, started her job one month after her last exam and a few weeks before graduating with a First in July.
She said: “It made exams so much easier knowing that my job was not grade-dependent, because they wanted me regardless of what the piece of paper at the end said.”
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One of Ellie’s favourite things about studying at DMU was the teaching. “Dr Hobina Rajakaruna was an absolute highlight,” she said.
“Also, Anna Strzelecka. She was amazing and really showed me how to be a woman in a man’s world, because that is what engineering is. You are surrounded by men, so you need to stand tall and speak louder.”
She also credits her dissertation supervisor Muyiwa Oyinlola for helping her to zone in on development as her key skill, as well as the analysis of current units.
“My dissertation was based on a real-life problem for a company that asked me to investigate their machine and tell them why it wasn’t performing how they would expect,” she said.
“I made suggestions for change with evidence to back it up and I thoroughly enjoyed the process - scoring 80 per cent for my work proved that.”
While at DMU, Ellie got involved with the equestrian team and climbing club, which she described as ‘fun and good stress relievers’, but living away from home had the biggest impact.
She said: “I got to recreate myself and become my own person once I left sixth form.
“DMU lets you be whoever you want to be with no judgement. I think that is something special!”
Posted on Thursday 1 August 2019