TWINNING ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS IS PERFECT FOR TOM
Manufacturing engineer Tom Pickering says he couldn’t believe his luck when he found out about a scholarship scheme that has led to him being able to study for a world-class MBA and take the next step on his entrepreneurial journey.
Tom, 29, from Scarborough in North Yorkshire but now living in London, has had a varied career so far, including roles in oil, gas, aerospace, nuclear, medical and FMCG.
His work so far has led him to specialise in the introduction and implementation of new products, such as a new manufacturing line for a neurosurgery injector and focusing on improving factory efficiency.
Tom is grateful to a teacher who kickstarted his engineering career and led him to discover his love for problem-solving.
He said: “I didn’t really know how to apply my skills until a Physics teacher talked to me about engineering.
“I like the idea of having a real life, technical problem causing difficulties and being given the chance to solve it, hands on.
“I see myself as a manufacturing engineer, focused on continuous improvement, and working in both high-tech high-volume production and energy solutions. High volume because small improvements can make a huge difference to efficiency, and energy solutions, as a passionate environmentalist,
“My time at Rolls-Royce stands out to me. That’s where I realised my core technical skill set.
“And at McKinsey and Company, I’ve had similar experiences with my process skillset – there’s something really motivating about seeing the difference you can make. What little tweaks can be implemented to have a greater overall impact? What are the productivity differences? What’s the return on investment?
“Stepping into factories at Rolls Royce and with McKinsey, I just feel so energised. There’s a lot going on; a real positive impact can be made.”
And now, realising his desire to build something of his own, he’s backing up his degree at the University of Manchester with an MBA at IESE in Barcelona after landing the prestigious Sainsbury Engineering Management Fellows scholarship worth £50,000.
He says he couldn’t have undertaken the course without gaining financial support on offer from EIBF. He said: “To me, the biggest barrier to doing an MBA is finances. It’s a huge amount of money and not something I have sitting in my bank account!
“I was thinking ‘how could I afford this?’ Then I did some Googling and found about the Sainsbury Management Fellows scholarship. I couldn’t believe my luck. It felt as though the whole programme was targeted towards me. I thought it was amazing.
“I would not have entertained doing an MBA without the possibility of the financial help from EIBF. I am immensely grateful for this.
“There is a lot of financial help out there. The trick is to look early. Business schools offer a range of scholarships for excellence and need, ranging from 20-60% of course fees.
“It is important to calculate your return on investment from the MBA – does it pay for itself from future earnings? Don’t let short term financial worries put you off applying.”
He is now aiming to build on his technical expertise with broader business skills as he takes the next step on his journey to start his own company.
He said: “It (starting his own business) has always been a plan for me. I have always loved technical problems but have often thought my skill set fits in the in between of engineering and business.
“I did some soul searching, which led me to looking at MBAs. I sought the advice of people who had done similar things, twinning engineering with business, and thought it was right for me.
“I’ve always wanted to do my own thing. I think working independently to create something and grow it is one of the most rewarding things someone can do.
“But I don’t want to pursue it without having the foundations. I needed the experience, the MBA and, crucially, the idea.
“An MBA will give me a business education, giving me a platform to launch my own business. An MBA is an exciting, vibrant learning environment where I can test my ideas, work with people from different backgrounds and help foster a mentality of excellence.”
Find out more about Sainsbury Engineering Management Fellows scholarships today.