Megan’s apprenticeship journey and inspiring women in science
Nottingham College Laboratory Technician, Megan Grahame, 25, chose an apprenticeship to achieve her goal. She is now inspiring other young females to pursue a career in the science industry.
Megan’s passion for science began at secondary school, leading her to explore forensic science at age 17. While the course solidified her love for science, she discovered that microbiology fascinated her the most. Determined to gain hands-on experience, she enrolled on a two-year Lab Technician Apprenticeship at Nottingham College.
Having always had an interest in science, Megan credits her high school science teachers for encouraging and motivating her along the way. Now a fully employed Lab Technician in the college’s science department, she takes pride in sharing her knowledge and inspiring young people to explore the many career opportunities in the field - just as her teachers once did for her.
When asked what she enjoys most about her job, she said: “I love that my role allows me to work across multiple areas of science, giving me a variety of experiences each day - there’s never a dull moment! Working alongside experienced technicians and lecturers helps me expand my knowledge constantly, learning something new almost every day.
“I love cultivating different types of strains of bacteria, seeing the different generations grow, and how they adapt to different environments. Now, I get to share that excitement with students.”
Choosing an apprenticeship was an easy decision for Megan. She said: “It allowed me to learn while working, gain real-world experience, and earn a salary – it was a no brainer. I considered university, but I felt I wouldn’t get the same hands-on training.”
Beyond her own career, Megan hopes to be a role model to her siblings. “I want to show my younger siblings that the path to success isn’t one-size-fits-all. If you’re passionate about something, go for it - no matter the route or timeline.”
She also wants to encourage more young people to pursue careers in science. She said: “It’s great to see so many girls in the classes I support and so many female staff in our science department. What once was very much a male dominated industry, does seem to be shifting, and I’m really happy to see that.”
