Kate Bellingham
Just weeks from completing her engineering training, Kate bumped into the editor of ‘Tomorrow’s World’ and was invited to audition. She knew they were looking for a replacement for Maggie Philbin, and had sent off an application form, but the chance meeting with the editor whilst carrying out engineering maintenance duties, led to an opportunity to audition. When offered the job, Kate said she couldn’t join straight away, as she needed to finish the engineering training. This was not the expected response! A compromise was reached – Kate did join straight away, and went back to the BBC engineering training centre during the ‘Tomorrow’s World’ summer break to complete her studies, and gain her BBC ETSI qualification.
Kate presented ‘Tomorrow’s World’ between 1990 and 1994. During most of this time, the half hour science and technology magazine programme was live from the BBC TV studios.
During her time on ‘TW’ Kate started work promoting science and engineering, particularly to schools. She became President of Young Engineers, the network of engineering clubs in schools and colleges, a position which she still holds.
After Tomorrow’s World, Kate had the time to diversify, giving more time to Young Engineers and other science, engineering and technology promotion projects. Amongst a number of media projects, she co-presented ‘Big Bang’ on Children’s ITV, and hosted the weekly science magazine programme ‘The Acid Test’ on BBC Radio 5 Live.
In 1997, Kate was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Staffordshire University for her work promoting science, engineering and technology.
Kate left ‘Big Bang’ to have her first child. She scaled down her work, and decided to refresh her electronics by taking a Masters in Communications Systems at the University of Hertfordshire. By the time she had achieved this (with distinction and a university prize) in 2003, her second child was a toddler. So, while some people take a career break when they start a family, Kate took an MSc in electronic communication systems.
Kate is now the President of the Alumni Association of the University of Hertfordshire.
Whilst continuing her work promoting science, technology and engineering, Kate started helping out in her childrens’ primary school. She found this hugely rewarding, and started volunteering in the Maths department at the local secondary school. This resulted in Kate being offered a year long GTP traineeship, achieving Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in 2007 and spending another year as a classroom maths teacher at the Hemel Hemsptead School, Hertfordshire.
Whilst rewarding, this was without doubt, the most challenging job she has undertaken, and has increased her respect for the teaching profession hugely. She also discovered there is a great difference visiting a school as a ‘VIP’ and being ‘Miss’ as a regular classroom teacher.
Kate decided to move from the classroom to a larger realm of influence when she took on the role of National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Careers Coordinator for the government department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). The mix of STEM experience, having spent time in teaching, work as an engineer at the BBC and in the media, and taking an MSc all turned out to be directly relevant when trying to draw together the many stakeholders for STEM careers work
As Education Ambassador for the BLOODHOUND Engineering Adventure, Kate set up the BLOODHOUND Ambassadors scheme, and developed the initial materials for them to use in schools, giving a new way to raise interest in STEM.
Kate was asked to sit on the government department of Business, Innovation and Skills Government Expert Group on ‘Science for Careers’. The report was published in March 2010.
While Kate has continued TV and radio work, either on low profile programmes, or as a contributor and commentator, the opportunity to return to the screen came in 2009, at a meeting with the BBC Wales production team for ‘Museum of Life’ – a 6 part documentary series on the amazing work behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum. The series was broadcast from 18 March 2010 and is now available on DVD.
Kate continues to speak, host and compere at a wide variety of events and occasions. Recent roles include host for the British Engineering Excellence Awards, Co-presenter, with Brian Cox, the National Science and Engineering Awards at the Big Bang Fair, keynote presenter at a sixth form STEM conference for girls and after-dinner speaker at the Institute of Health Engineering and Estates Management Annual Dinner.
Kate certainly doesn’t remember her current ‘portfolio’ career being in the careers guidance booklets available when she was at school. However, drawing on experience and skills gathered throughout her career, she is enjoying varied and fulfilling opportunities.
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