Name: Marta Lema-Garabatos
Universities attended: University of Santiago de Compostela; University of Newcastle
Degrees obtained: MEng Chemical Engineering; MSc Clean Technology
Age: 29 years

Having studied in her native Spain and in the UK, Marta Lema-Garabatos wanted a challenging career in chemical engineering with a truly international company. She joined our Engineering Development Programme in 2001 and is based at our European headquarters in Surrey. She is now involved with a project in China.

Why Air Products?

After completing my degree at Newcastle, my ambition was to join a major company which could offer a first class training scheme for young chemical engineering graduates. Air Products seemed to be the perfect answer. It has good products, a leading market position and a highly-regarded Engineering Development Programme. This well-structured yet flexible on-the-job training scheme is divided into 3 eight-month assignments, giving you access to a variety of projects and engineering disciplines within the first two years. These are followed by two longer eighteen-month assignments designed to take you through to Chartered Engineer status within five years with the guidance of a senior, chartered engineer as your mentor.

International Projects

While training, you are given stimulating jobs and offered real challenges. I was firstly based in project engineering in the UK, and part of my job was to help with a safety inspection of a new Spanish chemical plant during its construction. It was exciting to be part of an international project with colleagues from Spain, the USA, the Netherlands and the UK. I was impressed by the efficient way in which our Air Products’ team worked together across borders. The great thing about Air Products is that it is an engineering and an operating company and I have been able to gain experience of both aspects.

Excellent Opportunities

For my second assignment, I moved to Tarragona. My role as a process engineer was to provide technical support to the new hydrogen plant which is now operational. I eventually had the chance to replace the plant engineer who was taking a career break. This was a fantastic experience both from the training point of view and the daily responsibilities I faced. There was always great back-up from more experienced colleagues.

Flexible Training Programme

After 18 months in Spain, I moved back to Air Products’ UK-based operation. I am now leading a small project of my own and am supervising the process engineer working on a hydrogen plant in China. At Air Products’ European headquarters in Surrey, there is a bright, young team from all over the world. We work hard but the company makes sure that we maintain a good work-life balance, encouraging us to take advantage of the numerous sporting and social activities. Air Products gives its trainees a lot of freedom to choose their own career path. I may even move from an engineering to a managerial role. Joining an international company of this scale means there are countless opportunities around the globe which will be open to me in the future.