Megan is first female mechanical engineer at Port of Liverpool (From Warrington Guardian)

Former Priestley College student Megan is first female mechanical engineer at Port of Liverpool

4:30pm Saturday 20th October 2012 in News

A FORMER student at Priestley College has become the first female mechanical engineer to enrol at the Port Of Liverpool.

Megan Pickering, who studied BTEC in Public Services at the Lousher Lane college, has signed up for a four-year course at the Maritime and Engineering College North West in Birkenhead.

The 19-year-old said she was amazed by the port when she arrived. “It’s not until you get on site and see the scale of activity that you realise just how much machinery is involved in the day-to-day operation of the port. It’s a very exciting prospect for a trainee engineer,” she said.

“The port is paying for an education I just couldn’t get anywhere else. Some people go to university and all they come out with is debt. I’m getting all of this and a livelihood – for free. I’m really proud to be here.”

Along with 11 other recruits, she will now work towards an NVQ3 in her third year and an HNC qualification in her fourth.

All apprentices will develop skills in fabrication, welding, calibration and diagnostics, as well as report writing and problem solving.

Megan, who is from Runcorn, could be working on major maritime projects within a few years.