Manchester Met Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprentice nominated for Young Woman Engineer of the Year 2016

Nadia Johnson, Nominee for IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year 2016

Nadia Johnson, Software Engineering Degree Apprentice with Thales UK and Manchester Met has been nominated for the great honour by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Nadia joined the Degree Apprenticeship Programme at Manchester Metropoitan University in 2015 as one of first in the UK to pursue the new model apprenticeship which combines university learning with work place training to offer the best in both higher and vocational education.

Nadia was appointed as a Software Engineer Apprentice with Thales UK, to work on SONAR processing and the latest submarine software and is based at the company four days a week. Since joining Thales UK, Nadia has had multiple project successes, including leading the introduction of a new automated test system based on Squish technology, along with a set of videos demonstrating how to use the technology across other applications. She is also a member of the Thales UK Apprenticeship Committee, representing apprentices within the company.

As well as her work at Thales UK, Nadia attends classes one day a week at Manchester Metropolitan University, which offers the opportunity to meet with other apprentices, gain support from tutors, and learn new skills which she can immediately put into practice at her job. On completion of the programme, Nadia and her fellow apprentices will be awarded fully accredited degrees alongside their four years of work experience.

Nadia's nomination for the award of IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year is based not only on her success in the workplace and at university, but also on her dedication to supporting others to follow in her footsteps. Nadia is a STEM ambassador and keen advocate for WISE (Women in Science, Technology and Engineering) and has presented at multiple local schools and university events to share her journey, as well as meeting with MPs from Education, Skills and the Economy to discuss apprenticeships and their impact.

The winner of the award will be announced at the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards ceremony on 1st December at IET London, Savoy Place. Whatever the outcome, we're exceptionally proud of Nadia's work and look forward to her continued progression and success.

Find out more 

To learn more about our Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprentice and find out how you could earn while you learn, and work with a leading employer while studying for a fully accredited degree with Manchester Metropolitan University, click here to visit our website.

You can also join us for our upcoming Degree and Higher-Level Apprenticeship Open Evening at the state of the art MMU Business School on 29th November from 5:00-7:30pm. Sign up here.