What does your day-to-day role involve?
My current role at British Steel is as a Technologist, within the Rail division of British Steel R&D. This is an incredibly varied role which covers everything from testing and developing the next generation of railway sleepers, to real world rail failure investigations, to performing other safety critical lab-based tests.
I also represent the business at a range of industry events (professional institution seminars, key stakeholder workshops), and help support R&D’s academic research activities through the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network
Utilising skills developed through my EngD, I am also heavily involved in British Steel’s environmental work to help guide the business toward a more sustainable steelmaking future.
How much time have you spent with the business?
I joined British Steel at the end of 2025, but I have worked with the fabulous team at R&D since late 2021 as part of my sponsored EngD.
What did you do prior to joining British Steel?
The journey to my current role began as a Mechanical Engineering undergraduate at the University of Sheffield in 2017. My love of all things rail was cemented by being involved in the institutions Railway Challenge team – leading it successfully in 2021. My final year masters project focused railhead adhesion, and exposed me to the world of railway research which wasn’t something I had ever considered as a potential career (despite loving trains!).
I then chose to complete an EngD sponsored by British Steel that started in 2021, which focused on the use of sustainable steel to support low carbon transport networks. This was extremely enjoyable, and involved a great deal of interdisciplinary working between colleagues at the University, British Steel, and key rail industry stakeholders.
What skills and experience do you bring to your current role?
I would consider myself a competent Mechanical and Materials Engineer with a wide range of applied knowledge in rail infrastructure and sustainability – much of this developed through my sponsored EngD.
I am also skilled in a number of research techniques, but really love creating and designing experiments to effectively approach and solve a business problem. The best example of this is the extensive work experimental work completed assessing the behaviour of modern railway sleepers – including our own steel sleepers. This ground up approach has been shown to be a real advancement in the research field and has yielded some really good research.
I also love connecting with people across the industry, presenting and communicating work, and helping them solve their problems!
What do you hope the future holds for you at British Steel?
My sincere hope is that in the next few years I can play a real role in British Steel’s transition into a more sustainable business, whilst supporting the development of new and exciting products to push the global rail industry forward.
Why do you enjoy working for British Steel?
The people!
My colleagues are all wonderful, humorous, and extremely knowledgeable. Learning from them, nearly all of whom have forgotten more than I know, is a genuine privilege.
What are you most proud of in your career so far?
A predictable answer but finishing my Doctorate in Engineering! Although there were lots of stakeholders, delivering a successful project (over four years) that I was ultimately responsible for is extremely satisfying.
What do you hope the future holds for you at British Steel?
My sincere hope is that in the next few years I can play a real role in British Steel’s transition into a more sustainable business, whilst supporting the development of new and exciting products to push the global rail industry forward.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
That I love making music. I spend lots of my spare time writing guitar parts with my dad – deafening my neighbours along the way!
What advice would you give to other people considering a career at British Steel?
Everyday is different. The wide range of products that British Steel sells across a range of industries means that there is opportunity to get involved in activities well outside your usual comfort zone. If you love a dynamic environment which offers a real chance to make a difference to a vital national industry – get involved and join the team!
