Kate Walker

"At school I’d always enjoyed Maths, Science (particularly Physics) and Art but I hadn’t got much of an idea of what I wanted to do. I’d considered architecture but after doing some work experience with an architect I decided it wasn’t for me. My A-Level Physics teacher suggested I apply to be part of the Engineering Education Scheme which my school took part in, which gives groups of year 12 students the chance to work with a local company, and design a solution to an engineering problem that they’re currently facing. At this point, I didn’t really know what engineering was, but I liked the idea of getting to design something from scratch and see if I could make it work, so I decided to sign up. I really enjoyed the project and it was during this that I decided I wanted to study engineering at university. The design aspect of the project was my favourite part and so I set out it find a degree course that would let me do.

After deciding I wanted to study engineering, I then had to decide what type of engineering I wanted to study. I looked at what I’d enjoyed the most as part of my engineering project and started searching to see if any universities offered a more design based engineering degree. Loughborough’s Product Design Engineering Degree was the first result; I looked through the modules and it was exactly what I was searching for, there were lots of projects and I’d have the chance to chose my own design project later in my degree. I looked at similar courses at other universities, but Loughborough was always my favourite, so much so, it was the only Open Day that I asked my parents to come to. Everyone I met on the Open Day seemed to really like studying at Loughborough and the campus as a whole had a really nice feel to it too. One thing that really stood out to my mum was the fact that there was a Women in STEM drop in room, where you could speak to current Loughborough students. We got to chat to a girl that was studying my degree and heard first hand what the course was like, which reassured my mum that I wouldn’t be the only girl on my course.

Whilst studying at Loughborough I had the chance to spend a year out on placement, working for an engineering design consultancy. This was something I hadn’t fully considered doing until my second year at Loughborough, but I was able to add this into my degree really easily, even though I hadn’t initially applied to do a sandwich course. After returning from placement, I got to choose my dissertation project and decided I wanted to design an adjustable 3D printed prosthetic arm for children, after meeting a little girl that needed a prosthesis. During the project, I looked into the logistics and feasibility of producing and selling my prosthesis and after some encouragement from my department, I decided to turn my idea into a business. 

During my final year at university, I was heavily involved in the Loughborough Enterprise Network which really supported me with my idea and taught me a lot about business and entrepreneurship. Through this, I was able to take part in a variety of competitions and courses which gave me some great industry contacts as well as funding towards my business. Since graduating, I now have my business full time and have been given office space by the university in the Graduate Enterprise Studio.  

Since being an engineer at Loughborough, I can’t imagine studying anything else, even though I had no idea what engineering was until year 12. There are so many interesting things you can learn in an engineering degree and it opens doors into lots of different career paths. The number of girls going into engineering is increasing and on my course it was about 40% female. Overall, study what you enjoy and don’t let stereotypes stop you.  

In the future I hope to still be doing what I am now - running my own business and designing products that can have a positive impact on people’s lives. In the short term I’m looking forward to releasing my prosthetic onto the market and beginning to grow my business to a point where I can start hiring other people. I’d love to take my prosthetic international, as I see a real need for prostheses in low income countries and this is probably my biggest goal for the future."