Lockdown Thoughts

Another key influence in my career was Rachel Palmer. She was my first boss in the professional world (putting aside a holiday job as a mechanic at a garage!).

I studied Mechanical Engineering at Loughborough University of Technology in the UK. It was a 4-year course, but the 3rd year was spent working in industry. I lacked confidence in myself back then. Towards the end of my 2nd year in 1993, after a few really bad interviews for other jobs, I found myself in front of Rachel. She had the air of a smartly dressed, mature businesswoman, but as I got to talk to her she was clearly a clever engineer as well. She was the first interviewer to put me at ease and as a result I relaxed and did well. I left the interview with a good feeling and had a job offer later that week. I was going to work for British Gas in their brand new R&D Center, developing engines to run on natural gas.

When I started work in July I was back to being nervous again. I didn't have any idea what a ‘real job’ would look like in the profession I had chosen. The first day I was given the job of highlighting certain information in a giant print-out that I didn't understand with a fluorescent pen. When my family asked me what I had been doing on my first day I had to admit that I had been ‘colouring in’!!!

But Rachel stepped forwards once again and spent the second day with me. She explained how the research Center worked, showed me the engine test cells which I would be using, and introduced me around. Over the weeks that followed I started to get the feeling she saw a capability in me that I didn’t know existed. There was something very clever about the way she would arrange for me to work with talented folks to pick up their knowledge and continued to give me tasks I felt were too big for me, only then to find I had completed them.

Working for someone that sees your talents better than you do is a wonderful experience. She gave me the boost in confidence I needed to grow wings. I caught up with her about 8 years ago when she was living in Australia and semi-retired, working as a consultant in the energy sector. I have sadly lost touch since then, but I still remember her well and thank her for her leadership. The picture is of the Research Center where we worked together.

Ben Reed
Managing Director - HamiltonJet