“I was nervous about coming back to education after so long,” Hannah explained.
“I kept wondering if I’d still be able to learn at the same pace, or if I’d made the right decision. But from the very start, the support at the College made me feel like I belonged.”
That support, combined with Hannah’s determination, quickly paid off. She excelled academically, finishing first in her year with distinctions across all modules and an outstanding overall grade. Balancing college life alongside her role at Wrightbus and responsibilities on her family’s cattle farm was demanding, but Hannah credits the College with helping her manage both.
“The lecturers understood that we had real lives outside the classroom,” she said.
“They pushed me to do my best, but they also genuinely wanted to see me succeed. That made all the difference.”
During her time at the College, Hannah embraced every opportunity available, particularly in advanced manufacturing technologies. Her skills came to national attention in 2023, when she represented Northern Regional College at the WorldSkills UK National Finals in Industrial Robotics, winning Gold.
She said, “WorldSkills completely changed my confidence. It showed me that I wasn’t just keeping up, I was capable of competing at the highest level. That experience opened doors I never imagined.”
In a significant endorsement of her professionalism, Hannah’s competition project documentation was later adopted by Fanuc UK as a template for producing documentation on their own products.
Having graduated last month as a Higher Level Apprentice (HLA) in Engineering, Hannah is now working as a Manufacturing Engineer at Wrightbus and continues to build on the strong foundation developed at Northern Regional College while studying part-time towards a Degree Apprenticeship in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (BEng Hons) at Ulster University.
Despite her busy professional and academic schedule, Hannah remains deeply connected to the College. She volunteers every Tuesday evening to support and train Industrial Robotics students, helping prepare them for competitions and develop confidence in cutting-edge technologies.
“I wanted to give something back,” she explained. “The College invested so much time and belief in me, and I want current students to know that the same support is there for them.”
A passionate advocate for women in STEM, Hannah also acts as a STEM ambassador, speaking openly about her own journey at national events in Manchester and at local careers events across Ballymena, including the Brian Cox Science School.
“Engineering needs more women, and representation really matters,” Hannah said.
“If someone sees my story and realises it’s never too late to start, or that engineering is an option for them, then that’s worth everything.”
Mark Maginty, Engineering Lecturer at Northern Regional College, said, “Hannah’s journey perfectly captures the impact of further education. She arrived with determination and left with exceptional technical skills, confidence and ambition. Her success in industry, her national achievements and her commitment to supporting others make her an outstanding role model.”
Hannah’s success also reflects the strong partnership between Northern Regional College and Wrightbus, demonstrating how collaboration between education and industry can create meaningful career pathways and help address skills needs in the engineering sector.
Northern Regional College congratulates Hannah on her achievements and looks forward to supporting the next stages of her STEM journey.
Applications for all Higher Education courses starting in September 2026 are now open. For further details and to apply visit www.nrc.ac.uk.