I was recently invited to write a spotlight article on my experiences as both an engineer and business owner as part of the voluntary work I do with the STEM organisation. This spotlight aims to provide insights into the unique challenges and rewards that come with being an engineer and entrepreneur. The intended purpose is to inspire and inform individuals interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields, particularly those who might be considering entrepreneurship. The target audience includes students, young professionals, and aspiring engineers who are eager to learn from the experiences of those who have successfully navigated the world of engineering and business ownership.

Here’s a little bit more info on the intended purpose and target audience for the spotlight.

“Spotlights are a resource that we send out to schools to enable young people to explore the varied career paths available in STEM by finding out about your particular journey. The target audience is aged 11 – 15 so please bear this in mind when answering the questions. Try to avoid industry jargon and think about the information that you might have wanted to know at that age”.

STEM provided a template to complete, the contents of which I’ve included below. Should you have any questions about my journey, what to know what I’d do differently or need some help or advice on what resources I wish I found earlier. I’ll leave my contact details below.

STEM Ambassador Spotlight Profile 

Name 

Dale Jones

Hometown/Area 

Leeds, West Yorkshire

Job Title  

Founder (Technical Director)

Company  

Form Lab Ltd.

Some Examples of My Work

What do you do day-to-day in your role?

Running a small product design & engineering consultancy means no two days are rarely the same. Generally, my days look something like; meeting and engaging new and existing customers and clients to provide consultancy advice and support, costing and providing timescale estimates for projects, carrying out design and engineering tasks such as concept development, detailed design, engineering analysis (using computational tools such as finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics, both examples of simulation tools that allow predictions to be made about physical systems in a digital environment. Similarities can be made between these tools and the physics engines in modern computer games that can mimic real-world conditions, e.g. collisions, wind resistance and gravity), checking and approving work from other designers and engineers, as well as all the business development, marketing, finance, information technology and other personnel tasks that are required.

What are the best and worst parts of your role?

Best parts; the variety of projects were able to work on and deliver, working on new problems and applying existing methods to new applications, solving customer and client problems, meeting and collaborating with likeminded people, learning from others and sharing knowledge, knowing the projects you work on make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Worst parts; Timekeeping/time logging, invoicing, administration and managing underperforming people and suppliers, change to requirements after a design direction has been agreed.

How do you have to dress, and what equipment do you use?

Our policy is to dress for the job at hand. If we’re attending trade shows or conferences, meeting with new or existing clients, we adopt a typical professional image business shirt, suit or smart trousers/dark jeans and jacket (optional). If we’re not customer or client-facing (no meetings), then smart casual/casual is the go-to, shirt with a collar or t-shirt and jeans. There are times we’re well be building hardware or working with chemicals and will require personal protective equipment and potentially over clothes.

We have a varied tool kit also depending on the task at hand. This ranges from high-end computers for design and engineering workflows like computer-aided design, photorealistic rendering & computational fluid dynamics to 3D printers for rapid prototyping, and notebooks/sketchbooks for design and engineering notes (personally, I like the Rocketbook range as they have a great app to capture design notes).

What were your favourite subjects in school?

Science (mainly physics and chemistry), design, art, history, geography & sports.

When you were younger did you see yourself doing this job?

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be when I was younger. I worked many different jobs and thought I wanted to be a car designer creating concept cars by my teenage years. It wasn’t until I started studying automotive technology at university that I realised I have a passion for engineering. These days I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Was there anyone who particularly inspired or supported you to get to where you are today?  

My family have always been very supportive in whatever decisions I’ve made, both good and bad but didn’t guide me to a career in engineering. I’ve always been inspired by art, design and technology, so engineering has aspects of each to a greater or lesser extent. People that inspire me include; Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Greta Thunberg, Noam Chomsky, Richard Feynman and Ray Dalio, to name a few.

Did you know anyone who did this job when you were younger?

No, I don't think I'd ever heard of a mechanical engineer before university. My dad is a retired civil engineering, working on large infrastructure projects like airports, oil refineries, and bridges. I understood the role of an engineer, just not the branch of mechanical engineering.

Has your experience in work/study/apprenticeship been what you expected?

I've worked for many companies, from start-ups to multinationals and have had good and bad experiences. You learn to take the rough with the smooth and try to make the best of any situation.

Do you see yourself studying further in the future to progress your career?

I'm always learning new skills, technologies or ways of working. I like to pick problems and figure out ways to solve them by learning and practising new skills. I'd like to complete a PhD or Master's as I think this would help give credibility to my capabilities.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Take the time to understand your why. What are you passionate about, what does the world needs and what value you can be paid for. Once you figure out your why (your purpose), it helps put many other decisions into context and give you a system against which to assess options.

When you start out, you may feel like you'll never achieve the thing you're aspiring to be or do. If it's really important to you, you'll find a way. Start with small steps and build momentum through new habits. These habits will become routines that will make continuing towards your goal easier.

Bill Gates often remarks, "Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years". Don't give up if you fail on the first or 100th attempt. Failure is a part of the process for success.

Hopefully, this gives you a little insight into what it’s like to be an engineer and small business owner. If you have any questions or want me to expand on anything I’ve covered leave a message in the comments section below or contact me on my social platforms.

Want to learn about other STEM Ambassador’s and what it’s like? You can read all about them here.