Profile
Alex Headspith
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About Me:
I live in Warrington with my family. I work as a mechanical design engineer . I enjoy music, reading and playing the guitar with my band in Liverpool.
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From a young age I’ve always liked building and/or tinkering with things – especially messing with the setup and components on my guitar. As an F1 fan, I was always more interested with the cars themselves, how they developed them and technology around them. I was fairly certain I wanted a career in Engineering, especially having the option to do it at GCSE level.
I’d known about Daresbury Laboratory and some of the high level scientific research that had happened there as it was only across from the town I lived in. When I got the opportunity to do work experience there I knew it was were I ultimately wanted to work. I applied for Apprenticeship and started there straight after I finished my GCSE’s. The rest, as they say, is history.
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My pronouns are:
he/him/his
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My Work:
I’m a Mechanical Design Engineer who engineers the next generation of particle accelerators. These tools will help scientists to better understand the world around us, from looking into atoms, medicines, or understanding how the universe works.
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I work for the Projects and Mechanical Engineering (PME) division of the Technology department. We do the design, engineering and management of some of the world’s biggest scientific research projects, including accelerators and space systems.
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My Typical Day:
The great part about my job is that no two days are the same!
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One of the perks of my job is that I get flexible working hours – so I tend to start around 9am – 10am, with the day ending at 5pm – 6pm. What happens in between depends on what I will be working on that day. This could be designing parts for a new accelerator, developing a new accelerator system or improving an older one.
I like the variation of working across multiple projects as it keeps me interested in my work and requires that I keep my mind active in order to get the job done right.
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Education:
Great Sankey High School
STFC Apprenticeship including:
North West Training Council (NWTC)
University Centre St. Helens
Cronton Sixth Form College
STFC Upskill Apprenticeship including:
University of Central Lancashire
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Qualifications:
GCSE’s at Great Sankey High School. (2016)
Started my Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship at STFC Daresbury Laboratory. (2016)
Level 3 BTEC in Maintenance and Operations Engineering at North West Training Council. (2018)
HNC Mechanical Engineering at University Centre St. Helens. (2020)
Finished my Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship at STFC Daresbury Laboratory. (2020)
HND Mechanical Engineering at Cronton Sixth Form College. (2022)
BEng Mechanical Engineering at University of Central Lancashire (2022 -)
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Work History:
Mechanical Engineering Apprentice at STFC Daresbury Laboratory (2016 – 2020)
Collaboration Associate at CERN for Beam Instrumentation Group (2019)
Mechanical Engineering Technician at STFC Daresbury Laboratory (2020 – 2022)
Mechanical Design Engineer at STFC Daresbury Laboratory (2022 -)
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Current Job:
Mechanical Design Engineer at STFC Daresbury Laboratory
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Employer:
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Makes science happen
What did you want to be after you left school?
Mechanical Engineer
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Probably no more than anyone else
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Queen
What's your favourite food?
Fish & Chips
Tell us a joke.
How do you make a duck sing? You put it in the microwave until its Bill Withers
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