INSPIRATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT

12 years ago, Sharon left St Austell College having discovered she’d ‘wasted’ two years studying topics that she knew wouldn’t give her the broadest employment opportunities.

“I progressed from GCSEs to A-levels because I thought it was the right thing to do,” says Sharon. “But I discovered that just because everyone does it, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right path.”

Post A-Level ambitions to travel to Australia fuelled Sharon’s desire to secure a good job, and earn her ticket around the world. Having spotted an advert with an attractive entry salary (common in engineering) at the medical injection moulding specialist Polymermedics, Sharon jumped head first into a career in plastics.

After her first year as a Quality Control Inspector, Sharon’s urge to experience ‘Down Under’ was still evident. “I really enjoyed what I was doing but I still wanted to travel. Polymermedics let me go, knowing I wanted to return, and this decision and their support ultimately advanced my ambitions and secured the role I have today.”

After returning, a new job role became available and Sharon’s work-holiday experience with a travelling fairground in Western Australia was soon to play an important part. The interview for the new Ancillary Technician job included mastering Meccano build kits and being monitored for work style efficiencies.

Sharon’s ‘hands-on’ fairground experience was the extra winning touch, securing her the role and she has excelled ever since. Polymermedics has created an ongoing development cycle for Sharon, with numerous advancement courses in Cornwall and across the UK.

This investment includes a number of NVQs and her final course has directly benefited her career in the Process Engineering Department.

Sharon concludes: “I discovered that education wasn’t my thing. However, learning whilst working has been invaluable and yes, I might have worked harder to prove that I can keep up with the boys, but I have certainly recognised that females in engineering play a crucial role. It’s rewarding financially but also in so many other ways. Little did I know 12 years ago that Polymermedics was a launch pad into a new world of nanotechnology which has turned out to be a niche I fit very comfortably.”