32 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk Annual Buyers’ Guide 2025 Special Focus Skills & Training As a Research Engineer at Air Products, I’ve had the privilege of working on cutting-edge fields like sustainable hydrogen production that aims to generate a cleaner future. But my journey into engineering and the lessons I’ve learned along the way go far beyond technical skills. I’ve realised just how much the values and environment we grow up and learn in – and the support we receive – can shape our career choices and aspirations, especially when it comes to engaging with challenging fields like science and engineering. Nurturing the right values In my current role, as part of an amazing team of engineers, I lead research and development on minimising the impacts of hydrogen production on the environment. We have developed and optimised the technology Air Products uses to produce hydrogen with low carbon intensity. My work involves everything from process design to technological innovation and engaging with colleagues from different disciplines. To be effective, one needs to bring vision, dynamism and creativity to the role and cultivate relationships to enable productive outcomes. While I enjoy these elements in my job, I also know that I’m doing work that makes a difference to our world, and this motivates me even further. This point is key. Engineering requires a real diversity of skills – from discipline in following industry standards and safe practices to using creativity to innovate winning solutions. But what all engineering roles share is an opportunity to effectively use our ambition and knowledge for the greater good. Does this concept of ‘greater good’ or ‘making a difference’ really matter? I believe it does, yes, quite simply because it can allow us to attract talent in the first place. Research by the Columbia Business School earlier this year, for example, found that women are much more likely to do jobs with a “greater prosocial impact”. But regardless of gender, we must emphasise the potential of engineering to provide strength of purpose, challenge, reward and fulfilment in the workplace. If people want to feel excited to get out of the bed in the morning, then engineering has the capacity to provide that! Providing inspiration and guidance Part of that, of course, means equipping the next generation with proper knowledge and insight about what an engineering career can really offer. I grew up in an environment where the positive impact of professionals with STEM background on the society was very much talked about. That environment developed figures like mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to receive the Fields Medal, the equivalent of the noble prize in mathematics. I made an effort to excel in maths and science subjects and it built the foundation that eventually led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in Amir-Kabir University of Technology in Tehran and later a PhD in process integration at the University of Manchester. Individuals like Maryam with their unique stories still inspire me to keep learning and applying myself to make an impact. We need more leaders in the sector to be more proactive about their role in inspiring the next generation, the newcomers to the sector and even their own colleagues. We need them to talk about their work, how they got to those positions of leaderships, what challenges they faced and overcame, and the contributions they made in their field. This would show their resilience and galvanise those who are inspired by their experiences. Creating the right culture to retain skills and talent in the workplace What’s also become clear to me throughout my career is that ambitions need mentoring – because if attracting the right talent to engineering is hard, retaining this talent is no easier. And the data around retention of women in engineering is disheartening. The Royal Academy of Engineering and the Women’s Engineering Society found that majority of female engineers – 57% – quit the profession before they reached the age of 45 – compared to only 17% of men. There’s a raft of measures that can help improve retention rates, and creating the right culture in the workplace is a big one. An environment where a diverse workforce – men, women, old hands and newcomers – feels valued is crucial. ‘Belong and Matter’ plays a significant part in Air Products’ employee value proposition – so inclusion is incredibly important to us, but Sonia Farrokhpanah, Principal Process Engineer at Air Products, discusses the importance of getting the basics right to recruit, retain, and inspire engineers - both men and women - while fostering enthusiasm and a sense of value in the workplace. Nurturing ambition, inspiring future engineers
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