Profile
Kate Belson
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About Me:
I live with my friends in Bristol. I’m an engineer by day, and I enjoy reading, Pilates, running, travel and rock climbing! I’m also improving my cooking and baking skills, and love spending time with my dog 🐶
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My dog is a cockapoo called Scout, and he loves walks in the forest and jumping in muddy puddles.
I have always enjoyed computer science and programming, and I like reading up on interesting topics like space or AI.
I am currently trying to get better at running, so I can do a charity 10k later this year!
I spent 6 months last year backpacking around the world, and I had an amazing time.
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My pronouns are:
she/her
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My Work:
Graduate Engineer at Rolls-Royce
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I am on the Rolls-Royce graduate scheme as an engineer. Over two years, I get to work in lots of different areas in the company, including engineering and technology. I even get to work in the manufacturing factory!
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My Typical Day:
I wake up and have breakfast on the bus to work. I get to the office at 8.30am, where I have a meeting to set my tasks for the day. I do some work, then have lunch with my friends. In the afternoon I finish off my tasks, then head home at 4.30pm.
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I might have some additional meetings in the day, like training courses to help me learn new skills. I also volunteer as a charity officer, so I sometimes run fundraising events! For example, I recently spent a morning selling donuts to raise money. I also have meetings with my managers to check in on my progress, and my career coach to help me set goals.
My day-to-day work might include testing software, coding, making presentations and writing reports.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
If I were to win the prize money, I would want to run a coding competition for students. This could be to build an app or a game – or maybe even control a robot!
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Education:
Waterside Primary School, Hampshire (ages 4-11) – this is where I learnt to read and write.
Noadswood School, Hampshire (ages 11-16) – here I sat my GCSEs and discovered my love for Computer Science.
Brockenhurst College, Hampshire (ages 16-18) – I studied for my A Levels here, so I could go to university.
University of Exeter, Devon (ages 18-21) – I did a Computer Science degree here, which meant I could do a variety of jobs afterwards!
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Qualifications:
11 GCSEs – my chosen options were Triple Science, Computer Science, Business Studies, French and History. I also sat the FSMQ (Further Maths) qualification.
4 A Levels – Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Computer Science! While I was at college, I also studied for a GCSE in Astronomy.
BSc (Hons) Computer Science – this was my degree, which I studied at the University of Exeter!
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Work History:
Waitress (aged 14-18) – I worked in a local café serving food and coffee. This really improved my people skills.
Tutor (aged 17-current) – I have tutored GCSE Maths, Physics and Computer Science, as well as A Level Computer Science! It has helped me learn how to explain tricky concepts.
Mobile Developer (aged 19-21) – I did some programming to create mobile phone apps while at university. This gave me some great programming skills.
Head of Projects (aged 21) – I worked as a Project Lead for a software company, where I spoke to people who wanted a website or app, and then directed a team of programmers to make the app for them. This meant I grew in confidence and could be a leader!
Children’s Party Host (aged 22) – I had a summer job running children’s birthday parties! This was very fun.
Graduate Engineer (aged 22-current) – I now work as an engineer at Rolls-Royce.
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Current Job:
Graduate Engineer
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Employer:
Rolls-Royce
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
enthusiastic software engineer
What did you want to be after you left school?
A mermaid... and then a computer programmer
Were you ever in trouble at school?
I did get told off for talking too much!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I would be a medical researcher
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Taylor Swift!
What's your favourite food?
Pasta
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Make a difference to the world, get to go on as many holidays as I want, and have a really nice car!
Tell us a joke.
Why did the computer keep sneezing? It had a virus!
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