Our people
Kate Barratt
Graduate Human Factors Engineer
Degree – Human Kinetics & Ergonomics and Organisational Psychology, Rhodes University, South Africa
Joined April 2008
“The great thing about doing rotational placements at Tube Lines is that they are very willing to invest time in training you"
“I grew up and studied at Rhodes University in South Africa, where I completed a combined honours degree in Human Kinetics & Ergonomics and Organisational Psychology.
“I thrive on challenges in my work. I get bored very quickly and am not happy with just an ordinary day job; I need variety and high demands for me to perform at my best. I believe the rail industry is ever changing to be fit for purpose and meet public demands; it continues to face many challenges. I also appreciate the recognition you can receive from within the company and this tends to keep me going and striving for more. I’m highly competitive and like to be the best.
“This is one of the reasons I chose Tube Lines. They offered a two-year graduate scheme for Human Factors Engineers, which in London is rare, along with the opportunity to continue my development towards registered status for the Ergonomics Society.
“The graduate scheme at Tube Lines is particularly good and creates opportunities for graduates all over the business, allowing engineers to find the career path that they enjoy and really suits them. I love being able to learn about all different aspects of the rail industry whether it’s about how the signals work, how control centres are built, how the track is replaced or how the trains are maintained.
“Predominantly I have worked in the Stations Human Factors team although I have also contributed to train systems human factors projects too. These placements have allowed me to expand my knowledge of human factors standards, principles and best practice which I think is crucial for progressing your career in the field of ergonomics. I have also been given the opportunity to move around the business to experience many different areas that interest me, gaining a greater understanding of how the different departments interact with each other. One of these placements has been in Asset Management, which I found extremely beneficial in terms of learning how the business as a whole strategizes, determines work packages, meets set targets and makes decisions about projects and operations within difficult time and budget constraints. I am currently working in an Engineering Management placement, within the Stations Group which has allowed me to learn how to manage multi-discipline design teams and efficiently deliver cost-effective engineering design inputs and assurance deliverables for a project.
“The great thing about doing rotational placements at Tube Lines is that they are very willing to invest time in training you – in the long term this can only benefit the company. I’ve found that any training I felt that I required that was relevant to my role I could attend and it’s been the same about attending conferences. As long as you’re prepared to share the knowledge you gain from these expeditions managers are generally happy for you to attend.
“The biggest challenge I have continuously is to make a great first impression on everyone you meet. This can be demanding but is crucial to your future in the business and in life.
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