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Inspiring ingenuity in the next generation

We talk to the very charismatic and inspirational Christopher Bellamy – winner of the British Engineering Excellence Awards (BEEA) Young Design Engineer of the Year Award 2016, sponsored by RS – about his inspirations, aspirations, challenges and dreams.

 

Q: Hey Chris, it’s great to meet you. So when did you first realise that you had a talent for engineering?

Hi there. Well, I think my parents realised long before I did that I had ‘The Knack’ (for those who have seen the Dilbert clip!) with increasing concern for the things being steadily dismantled and created around our home – but I was just playing – an attitude which I continue to this day.

 

Once I got to university, I continued my tinkering and having fun; it's not until recently that I looked back and realised that I was approaching things in a different way, and creating some innovative and exciting solutions – many of which failed – my upside down bridge concept was rather memorable!

I didn't fully realise what engineers actually did until my third year of university, having spent the summer working with a fantastic small engineering company – DMM Engineering, where I was involved in all stages of product development from concept invention through to production manufacturing.

 

Q: Who inspires you?

I get inspired by anyone and everyone around me, whether it be chatting to someone on a train, or a colleague, or even homeless people (I find their observations of the world and thoughts fascinating). Generally, those who inspire me are humble, determined, competent, passionate, proud, pragmatic, enthusiastic, charismatic people.

 

Q: What is your biggest ambition?

I am very passionate about the Mexican stand-off which is the sustainability of our planet. Unless companies and individuals can step out and develop radical solutions, which are appealing and adopted by consumers, there will be disastrous consequences in the very near term future.

It is the perfect problem for the human condition: it requires short term sacrifice for long term gain; it requires group collaboration rather than individualistic benefit seeking; it requires understanding something which is invisible and too big to comprehend.

My biggest ambition is to find ways to create radically more sustainable solutions which consumers adopt out of choice not sacrifice.

 

Q: What are you most proud of?

The three things that I am most proud of would have to be:

  1. Always speaking my mind – I have always stood up for my beliefs and principles, even when this goes against convention, the easiest path or business profit. A bonus of this is that by always speaking my mind, my opinions are on the table, and it builds huge amounts of trust. I don’t believe in cloak and dagger!
  2. Being able to talk to and gain respect from everyone from the shop floor to the boardroom. I pride myself on being able to laugh with and gain the respect of the shop floor workers, but then make a splash and an impact presenting to senior executives in equal measure.
  3. Inspiring people – I get a huge glowing warm feeling inside when I get notes or messages saying that I have inspired people to do something. With my latest activities in Canada, this seems to have been a lot of people quitting their desk jobs and moving abroad?!

 

Q: What tools (hardware or software) could you not do without in your everyday work?

A sketchbook, a pencil and a phone. The tried and tested oldies are the best. People are so eager to jump into email, CAD etc. these days, without thought and reflection first. Sketching is so quick and simple but can answer so many questions up front. Also, it is such an art form that you can keep getting better at.

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Q: What has been your biggest challenge since joining Jaguar Land Rover?

Sadly, as I expect for most engineers, the biggest challenges are around coordinating and communicating with those around you to achieve the best result. The engineering can be brilliant, but if you don’t have the engagement and agreement from the right people, decisions and processes, then your brilliant work will never see the light of day.

Since winning this award I have taken a break from Jaguar Land Rover to explore the world while working remotely as an engineering consultant. This has been hugely enlightening – the engineering content of work is much higher, but the brutality of the buck stopping with you is really rewarding and revealing – it has taught me a huge amount. Trying to do all of this while living in a van has been even more entertaining!

 

Q: What do you want to be doing in 10 years’ time?

I’ve never found planning very successful… as they say, there is nothing more dangerous than a man without a plan. I prefer to be opportunistic and be blown around like a leaf in the wind. I never know what opportunities are going to arise each day, so I just grab as many opportunities as I can and run with them. If I had tried to plan where I am now 10 years ago, I would not have had a chance – I didn’t even know what an engineer was!!!

More generically, I will be very happy if I can have inspired lots more people; made radical improvements to the sustainability of our planet; and created a wild, winding and interesting story in the process.


Q: Did you ever consider an alternative direction in your career?

My grandparents were doctors, farmers and teachers; my parents were doctors; my brother became a vet, so I always thought I would end up becoming a doctor or a vet. After discussing with a school teacher I changed my university application to engineering at the last minute having heard about it through the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and the Arkwright Scholarships. I nearly changed university courses after my second year, until I went on an industrial placement and it finally clicked that engineering was amazing, could change the world, and pretty much do anything!

A lot of my university colleagues went into financial services or consulting after university; however, I have always wanted to work on real tangible products that make a huge impact to people.

 

Q: What university did you go to and what course did you take?

I went to the University of Cambridge and following two years of general engineering, specialised in the Manufacturing Engineering Tripos.

 

Q: How did you get into the Graduate programme at Jaguar Land Rover?

After being rejected twice, I put in one last application on a whim without too much effort and was accepted! I spent a summer corrosion testing cars, measuring rivets, testing new aluminium’s and creating an innovation strategy, after which I was offered a position on their graduate scheme, which I then took up the following year.

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Q: What do you do to chill out in your spare time?

I really struggle to sit still. I like to get into the great outdoors and use my body as much as possible in the company of great friends – I can’t help being a bit competitive too. This includes Ironman triathlons, ultra-marathons, rock climbing, windsurfing, yoga, skiing and any other way of moving outdoors. Best of all, I love replacing all those calories afterwards with delicious food. The lapping of waves on a beach, the sounds of wind blowing through the leaves of a poplar tree, warm sun caressing your face on a crisp cold morning and the crackle of a campfire are all some of my favourite moments in life. I find that DIY works wonders if there are any particular frustrations which I need to work out, or need time to ponder and solve problems – I have an old house and a couple of very old rusty cars that provide ample opportunities for this…

 

Q: Do you have one piece of advice that you would like to share with other young engineers?

Self-belief: In this world of social media, it’s easy to feel inadequate thinking that there are so many people in the world better than you. From my experience, it is not the cleverest people who are doing the amazing things, it is the people who dare to set outrageous goals, and have complete confidence and belief in what they are doing. Their product, idea, technical skills or offering might not be as good as yours; but they are always the ones that are successful because they believe in themselves, so others believe in them too. They just crack on and do it, rather than worrying that they might not be rightful of the position they are in.

Set some outrageous goals, back yourself, and have complete conviction and commitment to your goals – you can then achieve absolutely anything.

If you’re worried about the meaning or purpose of what you’re doing, don’t. The more I tried to find meaning to life, the less happy it made me. Live in the moment, grab opportunities, laugh, scare yourself, challenge yourself, make mistakes, love, be kind, make people smile, have a passion and have fun; and don’t worry too much about why you do all of that in the process.

 

Q: What does the future hold do you think? Both personally, and for engineering and technology more generally.

I am most excited by software and hardware fusing together to disrupt huge archaic industries. Whether this is taxi services or bespoke clothing; the opportunities are plentiful and will dramatically change our world.

However, what I am most hopeful for, is the fusion of engineering design with planetary level thinking to make our world more sustainable. How can we engineer and design business models that do not drive consumption and resource usage; and can change people’s behaviours?

 

Chris, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences and insights as a young engineer. Huge congratulations on winning the BEEA Young Design Engineer of the Year Award 2016 – we look forward to hearing about more design innovation from you in the future.


If Chris’s story has inspired you to try something new, set some outrageous goals, or even put your designs and projects to the test, why not apply to win an award yourself?

RS Components, in partnership with Electronic Weekly, has launched a new programme, EW BrightSparks, looking for the most talented young electronic engineers in the UK.

Visit Electronics Weekly to find out more and make your nomination today.

DesignSpark Community Manager and all-around geek girl.
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