Rosa Wells, aged 43, a female engineer and Further Education teacher has been featured in this year’s Top 100 Women in Engineering list. Rosa built a successful career in aerospace engineering before transiting to become a FE teacher.
In her teaching role she helps prepare the next pipeline of talent for the engineering sector, sharing her skills and experience from her time in industry to inspire her students and be the female role model for women and girls looking to pursue a career in STEM.
Rosa currently works as the Executive Director for Employment, skills and IoT and this August, she will be featured as part of the Teach in Further Education’s national TV advertising campaign, appearing on Sky Sports News to inspire other professionals to consider sharing their skills through FE teaching.
Rosa’s Interview:
Where were you born?
I was born in Birmingham.
What is your background?
I grew up in Alum Rock in Birmingham with my brother and sister. My parents both worked in education.
What are your interest/hobbies?
I love reading and I take a keen interest in sustainable fashion and beauty.
Why did you decide to transition into teaching in FE – and the importance of female role models in male dominated industries?
As a child, I was inspired by the story of Amelia Earhart and her adventures with flight. This led me to my determination to study aerospace engineering and get to grips with theories of aeronautics. I was also fortunate to have great female role models in my immediate family and so I never questioned choosing to study science.
The field of science is linked to so many different sectors and industries! Without those role models, it can be difficult to see what you could achieve.
Having worked in the manufacturing sector for 6 years, I felt it was time for another challenge. I really missed interacting with people, so teaching in FE was a perfect way to both work with people and share my skills with the next generation.
As an FE teacher I have an opportunity to engage with female learners who might be considering a career in science and work with them towards their goals. This includes working closely with WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) and WES (Women’s Engineering Society) and they have some great resources and case studies to support more young women to explore an engineering or science career.
What was your experience of working in a male dominated industry while raising a family? What would be your advice for other women navigating ‘the work / life juggle’
Part of my reason for moving into teaching in FE was to have more flexibility while raising my children. I have always been able to find part-time hours which worked around childcare and, when I was ready, I was able to move into full-time teaching in FE which still allowed me some flexibility and that worked for our family.
FE engineering departments, like the engineering industry, can be very male dominated. However, I always felt well supported and respected; I was never judged for working part-time hours.
My advice for other women navigating the work / life juggle is to take time to think about your priorities and what is important to you and your family. Keep talking with your family as things change so quickly when children are little.
It can be difficult when you feel like you are losing your professional identity but the skills and resilience you develop are so valuable. Be proud of what you are achieving in raising your family and balancing work, if that is what is right for you.
How does it feel to make the Top 100 Women in Engineering list, and be featured in a national advertising campaign on Sky?
I am incredibly proud to have been named in the Top 100 Women in Engineering list this year awarded by the Women’s Engineering Society.
This year’s theme was “Enhanced by Engineering”, and I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with so many young people and mature learners to provide them with routes into engineering. To have been able to enhance their opportunities to progress and succeed in engineering is so exciting.
I’m proud to be supporting the Sky Sports campaign and highlighting the opportunities the further education sector offers to industry professionals.
Teaching in Further Education is a rewarding and impactful career pathway that plays a crucial role in supporting both the industry and future talent by helping to close the skills gaps.
We need more engineers to choose to teach in FE and we can raise the profile of the sector with the support of the advertising campaign.
To find out more about how you can share your skills by teaching in FE, visit: gov.uk/teach-in-further-education.
