Shakila Sathiananthan, 25, scientific adviser, L’Oréal

There was something about science that clicked with me early on. However, when you’re at school you don’t realise that there’s more to science than being in the lab. I did a chemistry degree and heard about the job at L’Oréal through one of the university's career days.

Most of my time is spent reviewing packaging, press ads and TV scripts, checking the claims that we make against the data that we have generated for that product. Getting great claims from the data is one of the best aspects of my job; there is also a sense of pride when you’re watching TV and see a product you’ve worked on.

Fay Bloomfield, 21, customer services engineer, Openreach

I service and maintain broadband networks. This can be up telegraph poles, below ground, in manholes and at the telephone exchange.

I go to people’s houses to install or fix phone lines. If there is a problem, I have to identify and mend it. It’s quite technical but, once you know what you’re doing, it’s fine. I am in the second year of a three-year apprenticeship.

We are given a buddy in our first year to help us to learn how to do the job. After that, we can go out on our own. I like that it is hands-on work that I can get stuck into and that it's different every day. It’s also good to be allowed to get on with the job – there’s no manager breathing down my neck.

Bindhu Gururajan, 30, senior scientist, AstraZeneca

My job is turning a new drug into an oral form. A tablet might have 20-30 per cent drug in it; the rest is ingredients to make it work efficiently. We identify what can be added to make it release the right amount of drug at the right rate and find the process to produce the tablets consistently.

I’m a chemical engineer so I am concerned with the manufacturing system – how to mix it, compress the ingredients into a tablet, coat it and so on. There is great satisfaction in working on something that is going to help people. It’s not working on science that makes a big TV into a small one; it’s helping humankind.

George Simpson, 31, laser scientist, BAE Systems

I’ve always liked to think that I’m artistic but I can’t draw or write, so science is a good avenue for me to be creative. The best thing about my job is the variety; 50 per cent of the time I’m a laser scientist, involved in the development of sensors for homeland defence and high-powered laser systems for security applications.

The other half of my time I run a technology partnership between BAE Systems and UK Sport. [Originally] cyclists approached us because we have wind tunnels; we saw the opportunity to get involved with a whole range of sports. UK Sport tells us what it wants to achieve, from new pedals to a timing system, and we have to create it.

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