I began at the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment (RSRE) in Malvern, Worcestershire in 1978 as a Trainee Scientific Glassblower, qualifying after 5 years before moving on to become an Experimental Worker. Over the next 2 years I gained knowledge and experience in Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD), Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP), non-destruction analysis techniques and X-ray microscopy. This led, in 1985, to working for a company in the South East involved in bespoke vacuum systems. I introduced new production control methods, co-ordinating all manufactured and purchased items, and developed a computerised programme for the company.