We're a global leader in premium drinks, one of the most dynamic consumer categories.
Tell us a bit about your career journey so far.
Before joining, my background was actually very different. I worked in local swimming pools and sports centres. I started out as a lifeguard straight after leaving school, then progressed into management roles across a few different sites.
Coming up to 30, I had a real moment of reflection where I realised I wasn’t doing the job I’d always wanted to do. I had this lingering thought: I want to work in engineering. So I started looking at college courses and had even enrolled, when the Diageo apprenticeship advert popped up - and it didn’t have an age limit.
I’d completely written off apprenticeships before that because I thought I was “too old”. Seeing there was no age restriction made me think, this is exactly what I’m looking for. I applied and was lucky enough to secure a place.
What was it like starting the apprenticeship?
I joined during COVID, which came with its own set of challenges. The first year of the apprenticeship was fully college-based, so I spent that year learning core engineering skills, then came on site during college holidays to get hands-on experience.
From second to fourth year, I was based on site, working alongside experienced engineers while attending college one day a week to complete my HNC. It was a great balance of learning and practical experience.
In 2024, I completed my apprenticeship and moved into my current role as a Mechanical Compliance Engineer.
Tell us more about your current role.
It’s genuinely a really interesting role - and it’s relatively new within the business. That means we’re constantly discovering things that maybe haven’t been done before, so there’s a lot to get stuck into.
The role is evolving all the time. I never really know what my day is going to look like - one day it might be problem solving, another day it’s planning or getting things in order. That variety is something I really enjoy.
How do you balance studying alongside your role?
About 18 months ago, I approached my manager and HR business partners to ask if they’d support me through a degree alongside my role. We worked out a flexible arrangement that allows me one day a week at university.
The course is technically a graduate apprenticeship in mechanical engineering for manufacturing environments, but I’m not in a graduate apprentice role - I stay in my current job and reduce my hours slightly to make it work. Because it’s a graduate apprenticeship programme, it’s designed around one day a week of study, which really helps.
How do you manage work-life balance?
It is a lot, I won’t pretend otherwise. I also have a seven-year-old daughter, so juggling work, studying and family life can be challenging. That said, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m determined to make it work.
One thing I’m quite strong on is switching off. When I finish work, my laptop closes and that’s me home. I do sometimes need to do university work in the evenings, but generally I believe downtime is important - and that’s something my team and manager really respect.
What was it like joining the apprenticeship as someone with more work experience?
There were pros and cons. Going to college with 17–22 year olds was definitely a culture shock - I felt like the “big sister” of the group for a while! But once we got to know each other, we built a really good bond.
On site, having previous work experience helped because I already understood how a workplace operates and had a strong work ethic. At the same time, some people initially assumed I already had engineering knowledge, which wasn’t the case. I had workplace experience - not engineering experience. But once expectations were clear, that settled quickly.
How flexible is the role day to day?
I currently work a core Monday to Friday shift pattern. During my apprenticeship, I did get some experience across different shift patterns, which is really useful for understanding how maintenance works around production.
In my current role, we are exploring more flexible shift options, but nothing is final yet. That said, there is flexibility where it matters. If I need to pick my daughter up early or adjust my hours, my manager is supportive. Most managers I’ve worked with here genuinely try to help if you’re struggling.
Do you feel able to be yourself at work?
Yes, absolutely. As long as you’re willing to put in the effort and take pride in your work, people listen to you and respect what you bring. I’ve not really seen any issues around people feeling unable to be themselves.
What stands out to you about working here?
One of the biggest things for me is the safety culture. It’s not just lip service. If there’s a safety issue, the focus is on finding a solution - not cutting corners or ignoring the problem.
There’s a real willingness to invest time, experience and money into making things safe, which makes me feel looked after while I’m at work. That’s a huge positive.
What do you enjoy most about working here?
Definitely the team and the variety of work. My job isn’t the same from one day to the next - sometimes we’re problem-solving, sometimes planning, sometimes just getting things in order.
I never quite know what I’m walking into in the morning, and that variety is what I enjoy most.
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