From apprentice to owner - How to rise to the top in manufacturing

From a school leaver and 16 to owner at AT Engine Controls, Andrea Hough has risen through the ranks in manufacturing. It was a journey that started with an apprenticeship and led to becoming an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

She says, "In manufacturing, it’s one of the fields where you don’t need to necessarily go the academic route. You can start on the shop floor and work your way up."

She also wants to dispel stereotypes about manufacturing jobs. She says, "I still hear a lot of silly stereotypes about what engineering is like. Some people still think of navy overalls and dirty jobs rather than the high end work that we actually do."