Pyae Thu’s Journey to Success in Engineering

When Pyae Thu moved to the UK, she knew it wouldn’t be easy. A new country, a new job market, and an uncertain future – but she never lost sight of her goal: to continue her career in engineering. Today, just six months into her role at LIBERTY Speciality Steels, she has already made a lasting impact.

Her journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. Originally from Myanmar, Pyae spent four years working in the offshore industry, specialising in electrical power systems. But when political instability in her home country made it difficult to continue, she and her partner made the life-changing decision to relocate.

Starting over in the UK came with challenges. Finding a job in her field proved tougher than she expected, and for seven months, she faced rejection after rejection. But instead of giving up, Pyae used every interview as a learning experience.

“I always asked for feedback,” she explains. “I wanted to know where I needed to improve, so I could do better next time.”

Her persistence paid off when she secured an interview at LIBERTY. Paul Needham, an experienced Electrical Control Engineer, was part of the team assessing her. Despite not having direct experience in automation and programming, Pyae impressed them with her problem-solving mindset and willingness to learn.

“She tried to apply her previous knowledge to the new challenges we presented, and that showed real intelligence,” Paul recalls. “We could see she had something special.”

Thriving at LIBERTY

Since joining the Engineering department at ACP, Pyae has embraced the opportunity to grow. Her role involves working on complex automation and control systems – different from her previous work in power distribution, but she’s learning fast.

“I was a bit nervous at first because it’s a new industry for me. In my previous job, I worked mainly with power lines, but here, I’m getting hands-on experience with automation and programming. It’s a whole new field for me, and I’m learning so much,” she admits.

Beyond her technical abilities, Pyae’s positive attitude and drive have made her a valued member of the team.

“I was worried about fitting in,” Pyae says. “But everyone has been incredibly welcoming and supportive. Paul, in particular, has been a great mentor, always willing to teach and encourage me.”

For Paul, mentoring Pyae has been a rewarding experience. “It’s great to see young engineers like her thrive. She’s passionate about her career, and that’s exactly the kind of talent we need. Pyae is brilliant – so organised and eager to learn. She even keeps me on track sometimes!” he laughs.

Engineering at LIBERTY presents its own challenges, something Pyae has quickly adapted to.

“Before LIBERTY, I worked in a high-risk offshore environment where safety was the priority and posed some specific challenges,” she explains. “While safety is paramount at LIBERTY too, there are more varied engineering tasks that require problem-solving skills. But I love improving processes.”

Paul adds, “We’ve thrown her into some tough situations, and she’s handled them really well. She’s got the kind of curiosity and determination that makes a great engineer.”

More Than Just a Job

For Pyae, her work is more than just a career – it’s a source of happiness and fulfilment.

“When I first moved here, I asked myself, ‘What is happiness?’” she says. “Is it living with family? Is it having money? For me, it’s about having a successful career. It gives me confidence and purpose.”

Pyae’s story is an inspiration to other young engineers, a testament to resilience, adaptability, and passion. LIBERTY’s commitment to nurturing talent has given Pyae the platform to grow, and her presence is a valuable addition to the team.

Paul sums it up: “Pyae’s got a bright future ahead of her. If she’s achieved this much in just six months, I can’t wait to see where she’ll be in a few years.”