Profile
Lucy Collins
My CV
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Education:
Muswell Hill Junior School
Palmers Green High School (until after GCSEs)
Channing School (for A-Levels)
University of Sheffield (Undergraduate)
UCL (Graduate) -
Qualifications:
9 GCSEs – Maths, Double Science, French, Art, English Language, English Literature, IT, History
4 AS Levels – Maths, Physics, Chemistry, History
3 A Levels – Maths, Physics, Chemistry
Masters Degree: Civil & Structural Engineering
Masters Degree: Naval Architecture -
Work History:
After Uni I joined the Graduate Scheme at the Ministry of Defence where I did a number of placements in ships and submarines and even worked in America for 3 months. I also did a year long Masters Degree at UCL. 2009 – 2012.
I then worked at UCL as a Research Assistant helping to teach students and looking after the towing tank experimental facility. 2012-2016.
I have been in my current team since 2016 but I was promoted to a more responsible position in 2018. -
Current Job:
Naval Architect in the Ministry of Defence
(Helping keep submarines safe at sea)
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About Me:
I’m a very creative person and a good communicator and I love being part of a team and working together to come up with solutions to difficult problems.
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I live in Bristol with my husband and baby daughter. I love spending time outdoors exploring nature and doing lots of crafting. I particularly enjoy sewing clothes for my niece and nephews as well as my daughter. I’m an Assistant Scout Leader at Beavers, helping to do fun activities with 24 girls and boys aged between 6 and 7. In January this year we stayed over night at Flip Out! An inflatables park, which was lots of fun.
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My job title is ‘Naval Architect’ and this means I’m an Engineer who is involved in anything related to the maritime environment. So vessels and structures that go in the sea like ships, boats, oil rigs, wind turbines and many other things too! However, my focus is submarines for the Royal Navy. I help to make sure that they are safe. I do this in a number of different ways. For example; I might use maths or physics to make a computer model of the submarine to understand how it will move in waves or I might put a real model into one of the biggest tanks of water in Europe!
I usually work in an office but I also sometimes go to sea in submarines or visit them in one of the Dockyards around the coast of the UK. I once spent six days and seven nights on board a submarine as we sailed from Scotland to Plymouth, and was the first female Naval Architect to do so. I have also been to sea with the Norwegian Navy around Sweden where I was able to dive in the NATO Submarine Rescue System, which is similar to the vessel that David Attenborough used in the Blue Planet TV series.
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My Typical Day:
I get up at 7am, give my daughter some milk and help her get dressed. I take her on my bicycle to nursery and then I continue on to work. It takes me about half an hour and I arrive at 8.30am. I first check which desk will be mine for the day before starting the computer up and making a much needed cup of tea! I spend a few hours answering emails. On a Monday we will usually have a team meeting at about 11am where we will talk about the work we want to do that week and update each other on what we’ve been doing since we last spoke. At 12pm I have lunch and sometimes go for a walk, read or meet up with a friend. I start work again at 12.30pm and focus on completing a task by myself. This might be writing a report, reading and checking over someone else’s work or making a spread sheet. In the afternoon I will make some phone calls or go and visit some colleagues. I leave work at 4.45pm to pick up my daughter and go home.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Creative, Thoughtful, Helpful
What did you want to be after you left school?
A Structural Engineer and design bridges
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Not really
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Taylor Swift
What's your favourite food?
Salt & Vinegar Crisps!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To be healthy, happy and have more time for crafting!
Tell us a joke.
What does the Atlantic Ocean say to the Pacific Ocean? Nothing, they just wave!
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