It’s winter 2012 on a windswept oil rig just off the coast of Aberdeen. An oil rig worker passes his daughter’s homework to fellow engineers, so they can help her decipher the correct answers to science and maths questions.
This was the first sign of Gaby Rennie’s determination as a child to learn more about science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Over a decade later, her passion for STEM has come full circle, following her delivery of her first mentoring programme for young people in her home town of Buckie.
Gaby said: “Sometimes I would struggle with my maths. My Dad worked offshore, so he would ask his friends to help me with my maths homework. When I left Buckie to go to university, I would talk to friends who had grown up in bigger cities and they would describe their hobbies or events they would go to, or just even day-to-day life and they had more access to so many more resources.
I think Buckie is a fantastic place and when I was invited to attend my former high school, Buckie High, to talk about my career, I saw an opportunity to help share as much of my knowledge and experience as I could.“
Gaby has an integrated Masters degree in Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde and has worked in Project Management and Bid Leader roles at Leonardo since joining as a graduate in August 2022.
Leonardo employs thousands of engineers to create cutting edge defence and aerospace technology that is used to protect UK air space, so Gaby is able to describe what it is like working in an engineering environment with all the diverse career paths available in this field, including her own specialisms in bid and project management.
Abbie Farquhar and Eliza Strachan, who are currently in Sixth Year at Buckie High School, have received 1: 1 mentoring from Gaby at the school over the past year. Gaby, who works as a Bid Leader at Global Security company Leonardo, regularly travelled 180 miles from her base in Edinburgh to her former High School, so she could deliver her mentoring programme face to face.
Each stage of the programme was designed to give them access to information Gaby wished she’d had at the same age. Following discussions and reviews of their respective strengths and preferences, Abbie and Eliza have now each forged plans for their first moves into potential careers, after spending months building their awareness of their potential choices. Abbie is planning to go to college to study social care or childhood practice, while Eliza wants to take a gap year, with the intention to go on to study Product Design at Edinburgh Napier University in 2026.
Both students feel Gaby’s guidance has made a tangible impact on their futures already.
Abbie said: “The mentoring support from Gaby has helped me feel more confident when it comes to writing things such as CVs or Personal Statements so I feel more prepared for interviews. This mentoring programme has opened me up to new things such as modern apprenticeships. Gaby has helped me figure out what I would like to do in the future and helped me find the path I would need to go down to get where I want to be.
Throughout the programme I have gained more confidence in how to prepare for the future. Gaby has done an amazing job at helping us with finding information and giving us some helpful skills we will definitely use throughout life.”
Eliza added: “Gaby really improved my confidence for my UCAS application and I felt better prepared for the interviews I will need to complete to be accepted into university. I also feel better prepared for university life, because I’ve learned how to improve my presentation and teamworking techniques.
I feel I can trust Gaby, so I can confidently turn to her in the future if I would like hear her insights, or her get her advice about industry. She has improved my understanding of international trade and industry and that along with my work experience has given me a well developed understanding of the engineering field.”
Reflecting on the first mentoring programme, Gaby said: “It was great to see their confidence grow. I want to demystify industry, so that different industrial sectors become familiar and accessible.”
