A Terex team member based at the company’s Ballymoney site has graduated from Ulster University after successfully completing a four-year degree apprenticeship, marking the latest milestone in a career journey that saw her retrain and pursue a new direction into engineering.
Rosie Wildwood, who works as a Manufacturing Engineer, originally trained in theatre design and spent time working across a variety of industries before deciding to pursue a career in engineering.
Following the birth of her three children, she made a conscious decision to take a more strategic approach to her career and began exploring opportunities within the engineering sector.
“I realised I wanted a career that offered long-term opportunities and progression,” she explained. “At the time, there didn’t seem to be many obvious routes in, so I trained as a welder and secured a position with Terex.”
While working at the Ballymoney site, she discovered a degree apprenticeship opportunity in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and successfully secured a place on the programme. Terex subsequently agreed to support her through the qualification, allowing her to continue working while studying towards a degree.
Delivered through a partnership between Ulster University and the Department for the Economy, the apprenticeship combined academic study with practical workplace experience over four years.
The first year consisted of four days of university study and one day at work each week, before reversing to four days in the workplace and one day at university for the remainder of the programme.
“Being able to apply what I was learning in university to real situations at work gave me valuable context and helped bring the theory to life,” she said. “Over time, I could see my knowledge and confidence growing, and I found myself taking on increasingly complex challenges.”
As a mature student balancing work, university and family life, she said returning to education was one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience.
“I particularly appreciated the opportunity to challenge myself academically while building a new career. It was satisfying to gain the knowledge and confidence to solve increasingly complex problems and become more helpful to colleagues over the four years.”
One of the highlights of the programme was her final-year project, a work-based digital engineering initiative focused on helping improve manufacturing processes.
“It gave me the opportunity to explore an area that was completely new to me and develop skills in digitalisation, data analysis and problem-solving. What made it particularly rewarding was knowing the project has the potential to deliver real benefits for the Terex Ballymoney site in the future.”
Reflecting on her apprenticeship journey, she believes the experience has helped her grow both professionally and personally.
“Returning to education as a mature student, balancing work and study, and tackling unfamiliar challenges meant I often felt at the edges of my knowledge and experience. Through those moments I learned that the biggest opportunities for growth often come from the situations that feel the most challenging.
“That’s helped me become more adaptable, more confident in my abilities and more willing to take on new opportunities.”
She also paid tribute to her husband, Ed, for the support he provided throughout the four years.
“I genuinely would not have been able to balance the demands of work, study and family life without his unwavering support. He has been my biggest cheerleader throughout the apprenticeship and there is no way I could have done it without him.”
Bronagh McAteer, Senior HR Manager at Terex Ballymoney, said:
“Rosie’s achievement is a fantastic example of the determination and commitment that degree apprenticeships require. Balancing work, study and family life is no small task, and she should be extremely proud of what she has accomplished.
“At Terex, we are committed to investing in and developing talent at every stage of a career. Apprenticeships provide an important pathway into engineering and manufacturing, helping people gain valuable qualifications while building practical experience that benefits both the individual and the business.”
Now looking ahead to the next phase of her career, Rosie hopes to continue developing her expertise in manufacturing engineering, digitalisation and process improvement.
“My final-year project sparked a real interest in using digital tools and data to improve the way we work, and I’d like to continue building on that. I’m also keen to gain experience in areas such as strategic planning and leadership. Graduating feels like a significant achievement, but for me it also feels like the start of the next challenge.”
Terex, a global manufacturing company which employs people across multiple locations in Northern Ireland including Lurgan, Dungannon, Cookstown, Omagh, Ballymoney and Campsie, continues to invest in apprenticeship and early-careers programmes that provide the opportunity to gain industry experience while studying towards recognised qualifications. For more information, please visit www.terex.com
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