Kate Walker
Business Manager at WeldServ Site Services
Key Details:
| Current industry | Manufacturing & Engineering |
|---|---|
| School attended | St. Joseph's Catholic High School Workington |
| College/training attended | Cockermouth School (A Levels), Manchester Metropolitan University (Degree Apprenticeship) |
| Year completed GCSEs | 2018 |
| Favourite lessons at school | Business, History, Economics |
Q&A
— Give a short overview of your career journey after school
After completing my GCSEs in 2018, I spent the summer as a Human Resources intern at Iggesund Paperboard. I completed my A-Levels in 2020 devastated not to have secured an apprenticeship. In 2020, I began working for Mark Jenkinson, MP for Workington. What began as a part-time, 6-month contract turned into 4 years and a chartered management degree apprenticeship. Since then I have been completing the final few months of my apprenticeship within my family business, WeldServ Site Services. I’m currently an apprenticeship ambassador for the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network.
— What do you love about your job?
Current job: understanding the inner workings of SMEs, contributing to strategy. Previous job: the challenges, the development opportunities, seeing hard work pay off.
— What piece of advice would you give to young people about finding their best next step?
Trust in yourself more that things will work out. It’s so easy to be hard on yourself and to feel defeated when things don’t always go your way. Everything happens for a reason, you’ll never have so many opportunities to learn and grow again.
— What three essential skills do you think have helped you to be successful in your job?
Problem Solving, Aiming High, Leadership.
— What advice would you give to someone considering working in your industry?
Say yes to every opportunity you physical can, but equally feel confident saying no when you know you can’t handle more at the moment. Take every lesson on board, and seek opportunities for feedback. You have the ability to make a difference, enjoy the process.
— What is the best piece of advice you have been given that has helped you on your career journey?
Rejection is just redirection.