Dr Sara Ridley: From Apprentice to Industrial Fellow and STEM Ambassador

Dr Sara Ridley, Engineering & Quality Director at Autocraft Solutions Group, has built an exceptional career focused on engineering excellence and inspiring future generations. As a dedicated STEM Ambassador, she volunteers at local schools and universities, organising after-school activities and presenting at events for girls aged 8 to 16. Her goal is to transform perceptions of engineering, highlighting that STEM careers go beyond “spanners and dirty overalls” to include opportunities for international travel and collaboration with diverse groups of people.

Early Inspirations and Career Beginnings

Dr. Ridley’s connection to this cause began early in her career. She was born in London and later moved to Northampton with her parents. In 1984, she encountered the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) campaign, which inspired her to pursue a career in engineering. Attending a girls’ school, she discovered the prevalent notion that girls were often guided towards teaching careers, perceived as more compatible with future family responsibilities. “At that time, women in my family did not typically go to university, so I started my career right after leaving school through an apprenticeship in manufacturing,” she recalls.

At 16, Sara began an engineering apprenticeship with Express Lifts, earning City and Guilds in Mechanical, Electrical, and Manufacturing Engineering. The apprenticeship gave her technical skills and a sense of belonging in a supportive group environment. Being part of an apprenticeship school was beneficial as she wasn’t the only girl of a few apprentices but part of a bigger group. She also became a lifelong blood donor because of the blood donor bus coming to the school, and she took up canoeing, which she still does occasionally.

Career Development and Academic Achievements

Driven to contribute to her family and society, Sara pursued an HNC in Electrical Engineering and joined Express Lifts permanently. Working in the drafting office on cable layouts, designing lifts for buildings, and gaining comprehensive business insights by working across different departments.

Sara’s career highlights include designing lift systems for the new British Library and working with architects on-site. Her career paused when she started a family; despite plans to continue working, she found herself pregnant with twin boys and the financials for two babies and continuing working didn’t add up. She eventually went on to have another two boys. Once her children were school-aged, she decided she wanted to return to work but was unsure due to being out of the industry for some time and her old qualifications. Her husband suggested that she return to university and fully supported her in this decision. She returned to education at Northampton University, where she rediscovered her passion for remanufacturing during an industry placement.

Passion for Remanufacturing

Sara’s fascination with remanufacturing and restoring end-of-life products to like-new condition began during her placement.

After a decade in the industry, Dr Ridley collaborated with Dr Winifred Ijomoh from the University of Strathclyde, assisting her with industry data for their research. Dr Winnie is a professor in the Department of Design, Manufacture, and Engineering Management (DMEM) and the initiator and Technical Director of the Scottish Institute for Remanufacture (SIR), a pan-Scotland expertise hub for remanufacturing.

Dr Sara noticed that the industrial perspective was missing from their research papers; she provided vital insights, highlighting the importance of integrating academic and industrial expertise. This experience led her to pursue a PhD with Dr Winnie’s support. However, balancing it with raising four young boys and financially supporting her family was challenging. “At this point in my thirties and raising four young boys, I could only make time for a PhD if I could conduct research during working hours. The team at Strathclyde told me about the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Industrial Fellowship, which would allow me to complete a PhD while staying at my job.”

Dr. Ridley’s Fellowship opened doors both immediately and long term. The industrial perspective of her research made it stand out and allowed her to travel to Japan. Her doctoral research focused on non-destructive testing methods, enhancing remanufacturing processes, and contributing to developing British Standards for remanufactured products. She also won a Rematec Award.

Sara is passionate about the Right to Repair bill and emphasises reusing before recycling to promote sustainability. She is also committed to creating a flexible and inclusive workplace for women in manufacturing, ensuring that future generations can balance career and family responsibilities.

In 2013, Sara joined MAHLE Powertrain, eventually becoming Head of Manufacturing Engineering and Quality for their UK sites. Sadly, the site she was at closed and she was relocated south. She also travelled often to Europe, which didn’t work with family life. Her dedication to remanufacturing led her to Autocraft in 2018. By 2019, she became the Engineering and Quality Director, overseeing internal combustion engine and EV battery remanufacturing.

Leadership and Advocating for Diversity and Inclusion

Now in a senior director position at Autocraft Solutions Group, she keeps up to date on academic research. “The topics I explored in my research are still applicable today, and I keep up to date on the latest academic developments and trends,” she says. The company quickly saw the value in Dr. Ridley’s combined academic and practical perspectives. Her work gave them the confidence that the Fellowships are worthwhile and beneficial for improving processes, and they have since employed another Industrial Fellow.

Dr Ridley has also continued to strive to champion women in manufacturing. “We have consistently used gender-neutral language in our job advertisements and positioned diversity as one of our strengths of Autocraft,” she said. “The effort has led to tangible results, and today, I am fortunate to work with some incredibly bright young women.”

Her legacy, which is essential to her now and more than anything else, is to leave the workplace in a better place for women in manufacturing. Another woman could come along and do her job with the necessary flexibility with a young family. It would be great to leave the manufacturing industry in a better position for women than when she first started.

Her legacy is marked by her dedication to improving processes, advocating for sustainable practices, and inspiring future engineers. Sara’s story is about professional achievement, personal growth, and resilience. Her journey from a young apprentice to a leader in sustainable manufacturing highlights the impact of early inspiration, continuous learning, and unwavering commitment to making a difference.

You can listen to her Podcast on EV here: EV Battery Mythbusting