August 2024 – Ella Harper, Apprentice Toolmaker at Unipart Dorman, a designer and manufacturer of innovative rail and traffic management products, won the Apprentice Award at the everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards.
The award recognised Ella as an enterprising female apprentice who is making an exceptional contribution to her organisation in her early career.
Since joining Unipart in 2020, Ella has been working as an apprentice toolmaker and is now close to completing her Maintenance and operations engineering technician, Level: 3 apprenticeship with Southport College.
During her apprenticeship Ella has actively sought out ways to promote her career and her achievements to other women by speaking at local schools about her experiences.
She said: “When I was at school, jobs like the one I do today weren’t promoted to girls and during my whole career to date, I have never encountered another woman doing a similar job to mine. Not having had that role model or that person to go to early in my career, I’m passionate about showing young women that they can do anything and be that role model that I didn’t have as they start their development journeys and career paths.”
Ella’s most significant achievement during her apprenticeship is taking on sole responsibility for operating the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine, which enables her to deliver a better service to customers.
Ella said: “The CNC is a really important piece of machinery that allows me to create precise shapes and positions. Using it has enabled me to make things that are otherwise impossible to make on manual machines and gives me the ability to multitask, therefore increasing my productivity.”
There are currently 40 apprentices building their careers in Unipart’s rail sector, working in a wide range of roles, and 40 more who have successfully completed apprenticeships since the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced in 2017.
Ella recognised the encouragement she received during her apprenticeship: “The support from my Apprenticeship Advisor Dawn Allett has been amazing. She has made me and all the other apprentices feel safe and we know we can always contact her if we have any questions or requests. I am looking forward to going on more courses with Unipart going forward.”
Paul Brearley, Unipart Dorman Head of Operations, said: “Since joining Unipart, it was clear Ella had a real desire and love of tool room work. She is thriving in her position, bringing her own specialities to the area, mastering the CAD design for the HAAS vertical miller, whilst learning the skill of traditional tool making with the use of Bridgeports and Colchesters, as well as multiple hand tools. Her constant focus on learning more skills to deliver jigs, tools and fixtures with visible pride makes her a credit to Unipart.”
Ella said: “Being a finalist and winner of the Everywoman in transport and logistics awards is a memory I will never forget.
“It was amazing to have had the opportunity to meet so many brilliant and inspirational women, and learn their stories and experiences. Congratulations to all the nominees and finalists for their fantastic achievement!
“Thank you for all the support Paul Brearley, Dawn Allett, Julie Carrier, Juliette Wells, Nena Green and Graham Scott. It really means a lot to me.”
Find out more about rail apprenticeships and careers in Unipart.