The ILP's Young Lighters

‘THE IMPACT LIGHTING HAS ON SOCIETY IS DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE AWARENESS PEOPLE HAVE OF IT’

Continuing our snapshots of young and new entrants to the industry, undergraduate engineer Sofia Piccoli explains why she chose lighting as a career

By Sofia Piccoli

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

My name is Sofia Piccoli. I have been working for WSP for just over a year as an undergraduate engineer in the lighting and energy team.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO LIGHTING?

I am currently on my final year of my degree apprenticeship in electrical and electronic engineering and last year I chose to change job to do something closer to what I was studying at university. So my course manager advised me to apply to the lighting and energy team at WSP.

Sofia Piccoli: ‘The ILP is a great support for education’

WHY LIGHTING?

When I was offered the opportunity, it appealed to me instantly as it seemed the perfect balance of rigorous and creative work.

During the interview process I was told about all the fields that lighting touches on and that I would have had the possibility to experience street lighting, architectural lighting and work on more technical aspects of the electrical side as well which is a chance that is not usually given in other disciplines.

Above and opposite: some of the Westminster lighting columns Sofia has been helping to research

WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST INTERESTING ABOUT YOUR ROLE AND WHY?

My favourite part of my role is the wide variety of projects I get to work on but also seeing how lighting impacts everyday life. I am especially interested in learning about how lighting improves the safety of roads, town centres, tunnels and so on.

HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY PROJECTS YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF, AND WHY?

I particularly enjoyed taking part in research for new non-destructive-testing methods for lighting columns and especially for new technologies that would enable testing beyond the embellishment kit on the lighting columns in Westminster for our client FM Conway and Westminster City Council.

The purpose of the research was to find a way to test the structure of a column using non-destructive testing methods specifically in the Westminster CC, as most of the columns have embellishment kits that don’t allow for accurate testing. So, it’s all about testing the structure of the column underneath the kit without removing it.

During the research process I had the chance to speak to many experts in both lighting and non-destructive-testing fields and that changed and improved my day-today design work.

HOW DOES LIGHT INSPIRE YOU?

Light inspires me to always think outside the box, to try and experiment with new methods and ways to improve the world we all live in.

WHAT BARRIERS OR CHALLENGES WOULD YOU SAY THERE ARE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENTER THE INDUSTRY?

I think the main barrier is that it is not represented and not talked about enough. The impact that lighting has on society is disproportionate to the awareness people have of it.

It is only since working in the industry that I have started noticing street lighting and constantly think about ways to improve it. It should be mentioned more often when dealing with safety in towns and on the road, for example.

WHAT WOULD YOU IDENTIFY AS KEY CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY FOR THE FUTURE?

I think the main challenge is the same that all the industries are facing at the moment and that is finding a way to neutralise the impact we have on the natural world and save and improve the climate for the present and future generations.

HOW HAS THE ILP HELPED YOU ON YOUR LIGHTING ‘JOURNEY’?

The ILP is a great support for education and opportunities to keep improving myself on my lighting journey.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE IN TEN YEARS’ TIME?

I haven’t really thought that far ahead yet! I am focusing on getting my degree, learning as much as I can and experiencing different fields and roles within the lighting industry so I can find my place.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MESSAGE TO OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN OR THINKING ABOUT A CAREER IN LIGHTING?

My advice is to take any opportunity to go outside of your comfort zone. Enjoy learning as much as possible in any field and find the right balance of learning on the job and on a course.

Sofia Piccoli is an undergraduate engineer within the lighting and energy team at WSP

GET IN TOUCH

Don’t forget, if you’re under 35 or new to the industry and would like to tell your story during 2023, simple email LightingJournaleditor Nic Paton on nic.cormorantmedia@outlook.com or the ILP’s Jess Gallacher on jess@ theilp.org.uk. We’ll then send you a questionnaire to fill in and return with a photograph. Simple!