During the half term break, Lower Sixth student Sean Sutton completed work experience with Ford Motor Company, gaining valuable insight into the world of engineering and manufacturing.

Throughout the placement, Sean had the opportunity to explore several departments across the site, giving him a detailed understanding of the day-to-day environment within a large engineering organisation. One of the areas he found most interesting was evaluation, where he observed how engines and electrical power units are safely removed and installed in vehicles.

This experience helped him understand the complex processes involved in replacing engines and the strict health and safety standards required within the industry. During the placement, Sean also developed key workplace skills, particularly communication, as he spoke with employees from a range of departments, asking questions and learning about their roles. He also gained an appreciation for quality control, seeing the level of precision and attention to detail needed to prevent damage to machinery, robots, transmissions and power units.

Sean noted how organised the Ford site was, with careful documentation of all products entering, being developed on, and leaving the site. Health and safety procedures were clearly visible throughout the workplace, helping both employees and visitors feel secure.

The experience has further strengthened Sean’s ambition to pursue a career in engineering, reaffirming a career path he was already passionate about. Sean said he would highly recommend the experience to other students, as it provides a real insight into how engineering plants operate and the variety of roles involved.

👏 Well done Sean on making the most of this fantastic opportunity!