Motoring career
Delwyn Gibbon’s career is motoring after starting a graduate scheme at a global supplier of electrical systems for the automotive industry. Leoni Wiring Systems works with Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Aston Martin and JCB, among others, producing specialist, tailor-made electrical distribution systems.
The Automotive Technology graduate previously worked with Jaguar Land Rover directly and, while at Staffordshire University, worked as a mechanic for a Group C racing team.
“The motorsport and automotive industry has always fascinated me,” Delwyn recalled. “I’ve wanted to work in the industry since I was child. During secondary school, I was always working around the industry. When I was 16 I volunteered at Knockhill, a racing circuit in Fife and Scotland’s national motorsport centre, where I was a track marshal.”
Race track to car design
Delwyn grew up in Edinburgh and choose Staffordshire University after attending the Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham. He spoke to lecturers manning the stand at the largest indoor pre-season motorsport event in Europe and decided to embark on a Foundation Degree in Motorsport Technology.
“It was an 18 month Foundation Degree and I spent eight months on placement at a local racing team,” Delwyn said. “That’s partly why I chose Staffs, for that experience in the motorsport industry. I was the pit mechanic for the race weekends. We got the car ready for the racing, prepped and ran the pit.”
After completing the Foundation Degree, Delwyn undertook a top-up qualification to achieve a degree in Automotive Technology.
He continued: “On the top-up modules, to achieve the level of bachelor’s, I enjoyed the aerodynamics side and designing my own vehicle in CAD. I produced a modern-day track car and found ways to improve the aerodynamics, to make it faster, improve the handling and fuel efficiency. It was the field I was interested in going into after graduating.”
Delwyn graduated in 2014 and spent a year working for Jaguar Land Rover at Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands. “I was in the manufacturing department, learning how the vehicles are built, while also looking for graduate placements,” he said.
Leoni Wiring Systems
In July 2015, an opportunity to join a two-year graduate scheme at Newcastle-under-Lyme based Leoni arose and Delwyn made the switch, while continuing to work for Jaguar Land Rover as a supplier of electrical distribution systems.
He said: “I’m almost finished with the graduate scheme. I have spent a placement in Serbia, learning how we manufacture our wiring systems, and primarily work with Jaguar Land Rover now. The graduate scheme is growing. There were 12 of us when I started, 15 more joined last year and they’re looking at taking another 15 this year. I would highly recommend it to others interested in a career in the automotive industry.”
Leoni Wiring Systems UK joined the Leoni Group in 2000, becoming part of a global supplier of wires, optical fibres, cables and cable systems. They work with businesses and organisations across a wide range of industries, including automotive, telecommunications, IT, health and energy.
“It’s a great company to work for,” Delwyn explained. “Personally, when I finish on the graduate scheme, I’m going to continue in a specialist role and move into the 3D design team. The opportunities for progression are huge.”
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