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 provider 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 entire summer as a Human Resources intern at Iggesund Paperboard. I completed my A-Levels in 2020 devastated not to have secured an apprenticeship. My only offer was an unconditional place at York University, when I knew for certain I did not want to attend university. I decided to take a ‘gap year’ in which I’d attempt to find a job before trying again the next year for an apprenticeship.
In October 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. I worked for Mark up until the conclusion of the 2024 General Election.
Since I have been completing the final few months of my apprenticeship within my family business, WeldServ Site Services, a welding-engineering firm who is a major contractor on the Iggesund Paperboard site.
I’m currently an apprenticeship ambassador for the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network- set up by the Department for Education.
I’m an apprentice champion for Manchester Metropolitan University. I write regular articles for the Chartered Management Institute about my apprenticeship journey. I graduate as a chartered manager in July 2025.
— 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.