Esme Cardone

Company: GKN Aerospace
Job title: Third Year Technician Apprentice

Esme is a third-year Technician Apprentice at GKN Aerospace in Filton, Bristol. Her passion for understanding how things work led her to study engineering at school, which was quickly followed by a formative Year 10 work experience placement at GKN.

Today, Esme plays a hands-on role in manufacturing, providing critical shop floor support by analysing damaged components, planning technical fixes, and managing new production tracking processes.

Coming from a non-engineering family and often being the only young woman in her technical classes, Esme is a passionate advocate for diversity in STEM. Backed by a supportive team and clear opportunities for future leadership training, she is building a long-term career that proves aerospace is open to anyone with the curiosity to learn.

I was the only girl in my engineering class at school, so I know it can feel a bit daunting to enter this sector. But throughout my apprenticeship, I’ve never felt singled out - I've just felt like a valued part of the team. If you are fascinated by how things are made and want a career where you can solve real-world problems, this industry is absolutely open to you.

Esme Cardone, Third Year Technician Apprentice at GKN Aerospace