Tomorrow's Engineers Week – Marion's journey into engineering

Article posted on: 8 November 2023

Now in its 11th year, Tomorrow's Engineers Week returns this November bringing a fresh opportunity to shine a spotlight on engineering, engineering careers, and the professionals who drive this dynamic field. This week-long celebration serves as a platform to reach and inspire a new generation of engineers.

This year we caught up with Marion Tinney, a valued member of our Glasgow team. Having originally joined Clancy in June 2022 in the role of temporary administration assistant, September 2023 marked a significant turning point in her career as she chose to pursue an engineering role.

We sat down with Marion to delve into the motivations behind this transition and explore her future aspirations. Read on as we get to know the exciting path she's paving within the world of engineering.

Tell us briefly about your career journey to date and your role at Clancy.

Leaving school, I had aspirations of becoming an architect. I attended the University of Dundee for two and a half years however, midway through my studies, I made the decision to change course. In 2020, I graduated with a degree in graphic design, just as Covid had us all in lockdown.

 I was working in a supermarket when the opportunity came to take the role of a temporary administration assistant at Clancy. I jumped at the opportunity to move from Oban to Glasgow and try something new.

What has attracted you to pursue a career in engineering?

I have always been interested in design, from buildings to publications. I undertook an internship at the Beano comic in 2019 and was credited in the 4000th edition. Being given the opportunity to design structurally is another avenue I would love to explore.

Whilst being an administration assistant at Clancy, I saw the CAD work being produced by the engineers and offered to help with overmarks, as I already had experience using the software during my time in architecture at university. I was fascinated by the work that went into the drawings and wanted to understand more about the engineer's thought process.

I was given the opportunity to be a technical assistant while being taught the basics of engineering, essentially working as an apprentice learning on the job.

In September this year, I enrolled at Glasgow Caledonian University to commence a Graduate Apprenticeship in BSc/BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering. Becoming a graduate apprentice has allowed me to formally study the field of engineering and apply that knowledge to my everyday work as a technician engineer.

What are your career aspirations? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years’ time I would love to have achieved a qualification in engineering and gained more experience in different areas of the field. I would like to have a focus on structural engineering, but there are so many interesting aspects of the job. I’m looking forward to learning and facing new challenges during this time in order to become a well-rounded engineering professional.

And finally, your colleagues told us that you are a talented artist. Where does this stem from? Is there a piece that you that you could share with us?

I’ve always been arty and have loved technical drawing since I was young. Graphic communication was my favourite subject in school, and I always knew I’d do something with my drawing skills when I was older.

Although a lot of the work I was doing at university, and in my current job, is technical and computer-based I still like to hand sketch and paint in my spare time.

The sketch below is of Innellan Church in Dunoon, a project that we have recently been engaged on.