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New Students' Union leader Daisy sets out plans to be 'a very present President'

Posted 18 September

An Engineer who found a ‘second family’ on her industry placement - and a host of friends at University - is encouraging other women to follow in her footsteps.

Daisy Douglas, from Warrington in Cheshire, will be taking part in this week’s graduation ceremonies both as a graduand – and as current Students’ Union President.

Final year BEng Automotive (Off-Highway) Engineering student Daisy was drawn to study at Harper by both the University’s social aspects – and by its career prospects.

She said: “I liked that Harper was a small campus and had a close community. I particularly liked the Engineering course because it provided the opportunity to do practical work, to put the theory into practice and allowed me to work on current, real-world, industry problems and projects.

“I also was excited about having a placement year where I could explore engineering further in industry and try new things.”

For her placement year, Daisy secured a role in Ireland at a plant hire company called Height for Hire.

She said:  "My role was to assist customers over the phone if they were having problems with their cherry picker and helping them to solve those issues.

“I also got to drive all across Ireland, delivering machines and helped service the machines. I had such a great time - and feel like I have a second family over there too!

 “I enjoyed it so much that I would love to go back to Height for Hire, as a now qualified engineer, so that I can do more for them and explore the world of Mobile Elevated Work Platforms and hydraulics further. I have already been back over the Christmas holidays during my final year to help out with some jobs and continue to have a good relationship with them.”

However, for the next year, Daisy expects to be focussed on her role as President – and has already begun working on plans to continue and strengthen work on inclusivity in the student community.

She added: “My hopes for my tenure are to be able to create a more inclusive community at Harper and make the student experience enjoyable and fun. I am planning to be a very present President and make myself someone students feel like they can come to about anything and make them aware I am here to support what they want to do.

“I would like to continue my predecessors' Period Poverty campaign as it only started at the end of her time, and I think it is an important cause that is hard to stop once it has been introduced.”

Daisy's commitment to the University has drawn on her love of her studies, the social life, and the support she has received as a female engineer from both fellow students and staff.

She added: “There have been some struggles, of course - it's a tough but rewarding degree.

“I studied during Covid, which was difficult but I more than made up for it with the friends I've made and the fun I've had through doing motorsports in my first year and starting rugby, and the things I have learned both from my course and from the people I've met at Harper.

“If other female engineers are thinking of studying here, I’d say: go for it!

“We are a small group but we're slowly growing, and you will have support from each other as well as the female engineering lecturers, who have been massive supporters and very encouraging to me.

“Get stuck into everything you can - and don't be afraid to try something new.”