Graduate Stories: My journey into the space industry

A photo of Will, smiling.

University of Bristol alumnus Will Booth, graduated in an MEng in Aerospace Engineering in 2022 and is now working for Airbus Defence and Space. We recently caught up with Will, to hear about his journey from graduating to working in the space industry.

Hi I’m Will,

As I reflect on my journey from the University of Bristol to my current role at Airbus Defence and Space, I appreciate how important my time at university was in shaping my career in the space industry. The exposure I gained during my studies, particularly through my fourth-year group design project (AVDASI4) and my third-year independent research project, simulating reusable launch vehicle landings, solidified my passion for working in the space sector. Through these projects, I discovered my love for complex spacecraft design and developed key contacts at Airbus, which would prove invaluable later on.

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Welcome to your Careers Service

Welcome (or welcome back!) to the University of Bristol. We are your Careers Service. We are here to support you in preparing for your next steps during or after you finish your studies. It’s never too early to start!   

Whether it’s help in getting a part-time job, finding internships and graduate roles, writing CVs and applications, or deciding what you want to do after your degree, we’re here for you.     

First things first, you are going to hear us talking about mycareer a lot this year. mycareer is your portal to resources, vacancies, events, appointments and more. You can set up a profile in there that will tailor content just for you. 

Log in, complete your profile and off you go! 

The front entrance of the Careers Service at 5 Tyndall Avenue.
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My SME Internship: Tom – QLM Technology 

Hello! My name is Tom and I took an internship with QLM Technology for 3 months, funded through the SME Internship Scheme. 

I initially contacted the company through their website and quickly received a response and interview from the R and D Team. I had heard about the company through their links with Bristol University and the QTEC Quantum incubator program that the company was founded from.

I was looking to gain experience in research and experimental science, since my degree had unfortunately been impacted by COVID, reducing the opportunity for me to access labs during my studies. The company were happy to host me and give me the opportunity to learn lab skills while also seeing how a small company works. 

A photo of Tom smiling in a white shirt.
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Windō’s mission to connect you with LGBTQ+inclusive employers

Researching potential future employers is important to ensure their values align with yours, but where do you start?

Collage of a man in grayscale, superimposed over a blue and pink triangle.

We recently chatted with Ken Janssens, Co-Founder & Head of Social Impact at Windō, who are on a mission to connect you with LGBTQIA+ employers.

Windō is a free platform for students to easily access, digest and compare the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) progress and plans that companies are making to drive positive change across diversity, equality and inclusion, sustainability, and employee wellbeing.

The screen of a laptop, showing various brand logos on the user interface of windo.

We talked to Ken about researching LGBTQIA+ friendly workplaces using Windō’s LGBTQ+ Transparent value filter, which tracks over 500 major employers based on their diversity and inclusion efforts.

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Insights from the Latinx careers panel

In collaboration with the Careers Service, the University of Bristol Latino Society held a panel event where BBC Journalist Laura Garcia shared her career journey as a Latinx in the world of journalism. Keisy Fong, President of the Latino Society, shares some of her takeaways from the talk:

The journey to your dream job doesn’t have to be linear

Poster of the Latinx careers panel featuring Laura Garcia.

Laura worked various jobs throughout her career before becoming a journalist, including ones that didn’t initially seem to align with the journalist field. Yet in hindsight, she found that whilst not necessarily related, they yielded useful transferable skills that she could apply to future jobs. She explained that whilst it was not the job title she wanted, it gave her skills that helped her when applying to be a journalist.

Expanding your job search beyond a specific job title can help you learn more about your interests and preferences, and also add experience to your CV that showcases your abilities for future jobs. When applying for jobs, Laura explained the importance of showing how you fit well into the position as a candidate. She also reflected on how the ideal job could be one that fits your lifestyle and allows you to earn and learn at the same time.

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Meet our 2024 New Enterprise Competition winners!

The New Enterprise Competition (NEC) drew to a thrilling conclusion at the Engine Shed last night. The award ceremony brought out the best and brightest of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The NEC is the Careers Service’s flagship start-up competition. Run by the Basecamp Enterprise Team, students, graduates, and staff, with support from mentors and experts, transform their business ideas into business realities. The final stage of the competition, the GROWTH stage, sees participants battle it out in pitches to a panel of experts for a chance to win a share of £25,000 of funding!

(Pictured from left to right are: Shabaj Ahmed (Progressable), Rachel Keys (Heartly), Ajeet Bhambra (Foundercentre), Artemis Fragkopoulos (SLANT), Deeshen Shah (Lettus Digest), Louisa Billington (Accomodeep), Weronika Stelmach (Weaving Change), Isobel Turner (Attic Catalogues), and Vasudev Menon (Invaai)). 
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My SME Internship: Ben – SatSense

Hi, I’m Ben. I’m a second year PhD student in the School of Earth Sciences, focusing on understanding ground deformation of volcanoes using satellite borne radar imagery.

In April 2024, I worked as an Earth Observation Intern with SatSense, a Leeds-based SME (Small/medium-sized Enterprise) that provides services assessing, monitoring, and alerting for changes in ground deformation for a wide range of clients using satellite-borne radar imagery.  

A photo of Ben wearing waterproof outdoor clothing smiling, with hills and a lake in the background.
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Creative community engagement with Sparks Bristol! 

City Challenges went off-campus with a trip to Sparks Bristol on Wednesday 8 May.  

SPARKS Bristol logo

The event started with a tour of the different departments at Sparks and a talk about what Sparks does, why it was founded, and what they stand for.  

Lucy, Volunteer Coordinator

Lucy, Volunteer Coordinator, said

“Sparks Bristol is a sustainability and creativity hub. It’s a community space in the centre of Bristol where we want people to explore what a fairer and greener future looks like. And they consider the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and what we can do with an empty, massive building right in the middle of the city.” 

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Hear from your peers who have achieved their PLUS Award!

With the Bristol PLUS Award deadline fast approaching in just over two weeks, noon Friday 7 June, we thought it a great opportunity to showcase the experiences of three PLUS Achievers from this year.

Yunfei, Katie, and Ana Lucia all spoke about their core experience of partaking in the PLUS Award at our Outstanding PLUS and PLUS Celebration event at the Bristol Beacon to a great reception from our audience. Not only was their skill development and pure passion for what they accomplished clear, but the authenticity in which they spoke speaks to their achievements.

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