Kerry works for Serco as a shift technician on Skynet 5, the next-generation secure global satellite communications system for Britain's Armed Forces. She works in a team operating and maintaining a wide range of satellite ground station equipment. The equipment is used to manoeuvre communications satellites to maintain their orbital position, orient them in the right direction and keep them in optimal condition.

Her responsibilities include routine and non-routine maintenance and fault rectification of all installed satellite ground station equipment, using highly specialised equipment. This includes antenna, RF Baseband, transmitter, receiver, data processing and recording equipment, and communication and computer systems. 

Although Kerry had always wanted to be a barrister while she was at school, it was when her dad showed her an advertisement for an Advanced Modern Apprenticeship in electrical/electronics engineering that she started to consider engineering as a career. She decided to apply and was offered a place on the scheme by Teleplan.

Kerry studied for two years at HMS Collingwood in Portsmouth, completing the Royal Navy Weapons Engineering Artificer course, returning to her sponsoring company, Teleplan, for her final year. She finished her apprenticeship in May 2004 and achieved an HND in electronic/electrical engineering with mainly distinctions, an NVQ level 2 in Performance Engineering Operations and also an NVQ level 3 in Technical Services. She also gained Key Skills level 3 in 6 core subjects. She then worked for her sponsoring company as a process and quality engineer, testing and repairing games consoles.

With these qualifications and work experience under her belt, Kerry was able to register as an Engineering Technician (EngTech) with the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE), now part of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. 

The EngTech status gave her a significant advantage when it came to applying for jobs, as she explains, “Even though I was quite young, I found that companies were very keen to interview me for jobs because the EngTech qualification showed that I had satisfied an independent professional body that I had reached high professional standards.  Employers felt it showed dedication and real interest in engineering.”

With help from the Institution, Kerry has put in place a long-term career development plan which she is working towards.  She is now studying for a one year, flexible BSc in Engineering and Management at Portsmouth University, which will allow her to register as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) with the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and put her on the fast track to management with her current company.

She adds, “There are some fantastic opportunities in engineering and I'm really ambitious. Eventually I will achieve Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, which will help create more opportunities for me, in project management for example, and in the future the option of working as an independent engineering consultant. My last course manager said if I carry on studying with the same commitment, by the time I'm 30 I could be Dr Kerry Bell, which sounds good to me!”

Kerry has always been an active member of her Institution. Having attended the IIE 2004 Young Members Conference as a delegate, she was afterwards asked to join the Younger Member Services Committee. She then helped to organise the 2005 Young Members Conference and acted as one of the mentor/monitors. She is also on the Southern Regions Committee, organising events in the south and sponsoring special interest events.

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