25th February 2026 - Finding a Career that Makes a Difference: Ross Booth's Second Career Journey at MIRA Tech Park

As part of the Park People series, MIRA Tech Park spoke to Ross Booth, Cybersecurity Analyst at HORIBA MIRA and one of our ‘second career’ apprentices, as he shares why MIRA Tech Park is the perfect place to be making a difference.

I started working for HORIBA MIRA in 2017 after a career in information technology supporting communications equipment across blue light services and the civil service for over 15 years. I started in the new multi-million AETC (Advanced Emissions Testing Centre) as a technician. What was great for me is that, despite this being an entry-level position, I was empowered to make the most of all my previous career experience - from problem-solving and my approach to teamwork to my understanding of how technology works. I was able to lead on some of the new equipment - including moving from manual to automated weighing of filters which used xml programming. I went on the training courses and from there built the technical manual and trained other members of the team. This move to automation is typical of the approach at HORIBA MIRA and the drive for precision by reducing the margin of error through continual improvement. It inspires me to continue to adopt the same approach to my own personal development and career journey even now in my 50s.

My Dad used to work on cars as a hobby and converted a Land Rover to run on LPG over thirty years ago through his Motoring Club. He tried to interest me but it wasn’t until I got older that I started to make my own connections and the opportunity to work with different technologies peaked my curiosity. People often say ‘oh if I had my time again’ but I think there are always opportunities you can explore if you are motivated to. My son was lucky enough to secure work experience with the VRES (Vehicle Resilience) team here at HORIBA MIRA and during his visit I went to see one of the team that was supporting him and said I was also keen to find out more but recognised I was at a very different place to my son! I was reassured that they were interested in mindset not age and suggested I keep in touch. So when the opportunity for an apprenticeship came up I felt I had nothing to lose and their reassurance encouraged me to apply. Even though I was an internal candidate, I still had to go through the full application process which I think was absolutely right. During the assessment centre and formal interview it was clear that they valued team integration, problem solving, and my approach to using new equipment over things like my age and I was thrilled to be accepted as a formal apprentice just over two years ago.

During my time at HORIBA MIRA, I have been encouraged to explore secondments in different parts of the business which I have really enjoyed. I have spent time with the Climatic Facilities team supporting technical preparation for testing in the large Climatic Wind Tunnels for both passenger cars and larger vehicles as part of our development engineering programmes. I also supported our Passive Safety Crash Centre for three months, again with the technical preparation for test programmes. Both secondments were invaluable for learning the technology from accelerometers to sensors as well as what happens to the data collected and how it’s used to improve performance and safety. The openness to knowledge sharing is something that permeates through HORIBA MIRA and MIRA Tech Park. Obviously, there are commercial sensitivities but the approach to critical areas of safety in particular means information is shared with industry through whitepapers so the real-world application of new technologies can be fully understood.

What sets HORIBA MIRA and MIRA Tech Park apart from every other place I have worked is the sense of community. Everyone feels valued but also everyone is inspired to strive to contribute beyond what they do as their day job. I was the Fire Marshall and Health and Safety Representative during my time at AETC and nominated for a People Award by Angela Cluley, our HSE Lead, in recognition of my commitment to improving safety which was a huge honour for me. I also support the annual pantomime and bonfire night organised by the Sports & Social Club and have been an active member of the Board Games Club enabling me to meet a diverse group of colleagues from across the business. MIRA Tech Park as a sustainable location brings a world of new opportunities too and it has been great for me to support the team working on a new project developing net zero technology solutions beyond mobility through a consortium of partners. It’s a site like MIRA Tech Park that enables that to happen and the symbiotic relationship of campus, capability, and community is something truly special.

Everyone strives to make a difference here and together we achieve so much more than we would alone. I hugely value the support I received from my colleagues while completing my apprenticeship - allowing me the time to study and demonstrate the real-world application of the skills I was being taught. I also want to thank everyone for the support and opportunity to retrain in a second career. I am proud to be building my future with HORIBA MIRA and MIRA Tech Park.