Alessandra Ballance

Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons)

BCU played a pivotal role in shaping Alessandra’s engineering journey, with diverse projects and collaborations enhancing her technical and communication skills, while the placement year at Cummins prepared her for real-world challenges. Now, she’s a Hardware and Mechatronics Engineer, with a passion for inspiring future female engineers. 

"University had always been a dream, but open days left me feeling unsure. BCU changed that. The course content, structure, and placement opportunities really appealed to me, and the application process was smooth. After receiving an offer, I attended an applicant taster day, which sealed the deal. Experiencing a taste of the course, meeting future classmates, and interacting with the lecturers solidified my decision to choose BCU.

I’d studied a foundation year in Aeronautical Engineering at another university before moving to BCU to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, which included an industrial placement year.

My time studying Engineering at BCU was really rewarding. I loved learning a range of engineering disciplines, from electrical to automotive. This exposure allowed me to identify my preferred area of specialisation and although I ultimately focused on Mechanical Engineering, the knowledge gained from the initial electrical engineering modules continues to be valuable in my current work.

My other highlight of the course was during my second year, which was the integrated engineering project. This collaborative module involved a team of students from various engineering backgrounds tackling a real-world engineering problem. The project presented technical challenges, but the experience of collaborating with diverse individuals and learning from their perspectives significantly enhanced both my engineering and communication skills. In fact, the project became a central talking point in every graduate interview I attended.

During my studies, I completed an industrial placement year at Cummins as a Performance Simulation Engineer. Throughout my second year, the faculty continually informed of us of a wide range of work experience opportunities. When I identified a suitable placement at Cummins, my lecturers provided invaluable support throughout the application process. I particularly benefited from the Careers+ team's mock interview sessions. These sessions effectively prepared me for interview scenarios, instilling me with confidence and ensured I was well-prepared.

The diverse range of projects I undertook during my degree, including both individual and team-based projects, provided me with invaluable experience in various team roles and significantly enhanced my personal skillset. I felt well-prepared to share my range of experiences from university in job interviews and discuss the valuable skills I developed through these projects.

My placement year as a performance simulation engineer at Cummins was instrumental in securing my graduate position. After graduating, I joined JLR as a Hardware and Mechatronics Graduate Engineer.

Being part of their graduate scheme offers invaluable experience; I contribute to my home department while also rotating through various placements, exploring different engineering disciplines and roles. A fifth of my work week is also dedicated to professional development including gaining my chartership through the iMeche MPDS scheme.

I am driven by a desire to demonstrate my capabilities as a female engineer, and I often find I’m pushing myself and striving for continuous improvement. This approach has enabled me to develop a strong set of technical skills, and I have already started working towards professional accreditation.

A significant factor in obtaining my current role is the support and guidance provided by the faculty and lecturers throughout my degree. They consistently challenged me to excel and produce high-quality work. During my placement year, I experienced a significant transition from the university environment. However, the consistent support and regular communication from the staff provided me with reassurance and made the experience much smoother.

My long-term career goals include achieving professional accreditation and becoming an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer. Leveraging the leadership and management skills I developed during my university studies, I aspire to also advance into leadership or management roles within engineering, or alternatively, to specialize as a technical expert.

My advice for aspiring female engineers is to get involved as much as you can! Whether this is paid or voluntary experience, or a group project; gaining experience early really helped me to decide what career within engineering I wanted to do and motivated me throughout my degree. It’s a really enjoyable career so take every challenge and learning opportunity within your stride.

To me, 'I AM BCU' represents the totality of my university experience, encompassing both the challenges I overcame and the successes I achieved. My time at BCU was transformative, shaping me into the person I am today by strengthening my technical skills, fostering resilience, and cultivating a belief in my own abilities. This sense of "I AM BCU" will remain with me as I move forward in my career."