The demand for water and wastewater services in the UK continues to swell as the industry grapples with a serious skills shortage. Tackling this issue requires a comprehensive approach, from embracing technology and diversity to fortifying training programmes, to fostering stronger collaborations between academia and industry.

But amid these challenges is a realm of opportunity. With UK water companies recently announcing plans to invest the largest amount of money into the industry on record, attracting professionals to industrial water jobs could be that little bit easier.

Let’s look at what the investment entails, alongside the current talent challenges and where job opportunities lie for graduate engineers and apprentices in the UK water industry.

Exciting Water Industry Jobs on The Horizon

Last year, the largest water companies in the UK set forth a record-breaking proposal – to invest £96 billion into water and sewage infrastructure between 2025 and 2030. It will create more than 30,000 new jobs in water treatment and 4,000 new apprenticeships – a 50% boost to the current workforce.

The plans include building ten new reservoirs to secure water supplies, as well as cutting leakage by over a quarter by 2030. This includes an £11 billion investment to upgrade sewage infrastructure to reduce overflow spills, create ‘smart sewers’ using technology to intelligently control flows, as well as new nature-based schemes to manage rainwater. It’s touted as the most ambitious modernisation of sewers since the Victorian era.

Challenges Across the Industry and How to Address Them

Unfortunately, the UK water sector has faced many years of underinvestment and mismanagement. These factors led to insufficient maintenance and inefficient resource allocation, exacerbating the decline of ageing water infrastructure and decreasing its overall performance.

It appears the record levels of investment announced will go a long way towards addressing these challenges. But there is another challenge taking precedence, as water infrastructure is facing the same issue as the water workforce – it’s ageing.

According to the Water Industry Journal, more than 20% of those in water industry jobs will retire in the next decade. That’s a large accumulation of knowledge due to leaving the sector.

In stark contrast, just 8% of the UK water sector workforce is aged under 24. Addressing these dual challenges requires a multi-faceted approach, and here are a few suggestions to help you tackle this pressing issue.

Go Digital

The UK water industry is increasingly adopting digital technologies to improve efficiency, sustainability, as well as supply and infrastructure resilience. Tech such as data analytics, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence (AI) and remote monitoring are transforming how water and wastewater systems are managed and maintained.

For instance, Anglian Water became the UK’s first water organisation to implement digital twin technology. The tech is pre-emptive – it creates a digital representation of the region’s water treatment and distribution infrastructure to pinpoint where leaks are likely to happen before they actually do.

Another example is the Dutch water authority Vallei en Veluwe, which manages 16 wastewater treatment plants in the Netherlands. They use AI within their wastewater transport and treatment control systems to predict critical changes in flow and automate the appropriate response, saving their engineers hours of time. They also use machine learning to automate key controls, like pump and valve adjustment, to optimise nutrient removal and reduce energy and chemical use without direct worker involvement.

With the increasing integration of technologies, Engineers who possess digital skills (or those who are interested in developing them) are highly in demand.

Many water engineering jobs of the future will include AI, data science and software engineering skillsets.

Go Diverse

An Energy and Utilities Skills Partnership report found women make up only 29.1% of the UK water industry workforce, compared to 47.3% of women across all sectors. There’s clearly room for improvement to bring the sector in line with the nation’s average.

There is a host of strategies you can use to attract more women into your workforce, particularly in to technical roles. It begins with ensuring your recruitment policies and materials are inclusive, paying particular attention to your job advertisements to remove any real or perceived barriers to employment. This is a task a specialist water and wastewater recruitment partner can assist with, like us here at Alexander Associates.

Other ways to attract female water talent are to have flexible working policies, enhanced leave entitlements (for instance, maternity, adoption, paternity, shared parental and elder care), as well as train and promote from within. Some water companies also have specific employee leadership training programmes for this purpose.

Go Young

With so many skilled water professionals retiring, it’s important to look to the younger generation to replace them. According to the Energy and Utilities Skills Partnership report, just 9.2% of those currently working in water industry jobs are aged 16-24.

A key way to boost this figure is to take on apprentices. While you can reach out to new potential talent, it’s also worth looking within. You may have existing younger employees who are interested in up-skilling, perhaps from a general labourer role to becoming a certified water treatment plant operator.

Keep an eye out for opportunities to involve your older workforce in these schemes. Their transfer of knowledge built from years in the industry is invaluable to not only your younger employees but your business overall.

There are a number of additional avenues for connecting with younger possible hires, from exhibiting at careers fairs to talks about your work in water at schools. These can be virtual, blended or face-to-face.

Go Broad

As water skills are in scarce supply, expanding your hiring parameters can be extremely beneficial. Instead of only looking for those with water experience, you can include candidates with a solid foundation of core engineering and/or project manager competencies.

Engineering Jobs with Transferable Skills for the Water Industry

Examples of engineering disciplines with transferable skills include Environmental Engineers, who can transfer their experience from the energy or waste management sector directly to water. Industrial Engineers can use their knowledge of optimising complex systems and processes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of water treatment and distribution systems.

Mining Engineers have key insights into extracting and managing natural resources that apply to water resource management. Agricultural Engineers are somewhat similar, with a foundation in irrigation systems design and water conservation practices. And ex-Military Engineers with water infrastructure experience also have highly transferable skills that can be invaluable in a range of projects.

Find Support for Hiring Engineers or Applying for Industrial Water Jobs

Addressing the UK’s water skills shortage requires proactivity. This includes investment in training, fostering collaboration and being open to widening your hiring talent pool.

Alexander Associates can help you source the candidates needed to drive success in your business, from curating the right recruitment materials all the way through to offer negotiations. If you’re an engineer with transferable skills for the water industry and looking for a career change, we can help you with that, too. Please contact one of our specialists today.

The UK nuclear industry is at the cusp of a significant transformation. Much of this is due to an immense amount of government investment across the next five years that will create a plethora of new nuclear energy jobs. Engineers in all forms stand to benefit greatly, from those with civil and mechanical skills right through to those working in water management.

Whether you’re an Engineer looking for a fresh and exciting employment prospect or an employer in the nuclear industry, what you’ll find here is a comprehensive exploration of projected nuclear jobs demand, alongside the key skills needed for these positions.

Our technical recruitment experts also offer important advice about how to find talent with transferable engineering skills to fill these open nuclear roles.

UK Nuclear Jobs – Current Demand & Projections

According to the Nuclear Industry Association, nuclear energy has saved the UK 2.3 billion tonnes of carbon emissions, far more than any other source.

While the UK currently generates 15% of its electricity from green nuclear, the government has set an ambitious target to increase this to 25% by 2050. With it comes an investment of £1.7 billion, much of this into new nuclear behemoth builds.

Of course, this means new nuclear energy jobs … and lots of them! According to the most recent Nuclear Workforce Assessment, from 2023 to 2043 the current 83,000-strong nuclear workforce is forecast to rise anywhere between 123,000 to 180,000.

That’s close to a 120% increase in new nuclear jobs, both for seasoned professionals as well as newcomers to the field. In addition, our industry intel tells us that nuclear jobs are stable and very well paid.

To illustrate the scale of new nuclear builds, Somerset’s Hinkley Point C is one of the biggest, employing 9,500 employees. Over 1,000 apprentices have been trained on the project to date, with owners estimating the total project requires 25,000 workers, 900 of who will remain permanently.

Then there’s the Rolls-Royce-led development of Small Modular Reactors in Derby and Warrington. Over 530 jobs have been created, with estimates of 6,000 more.

There’s also recently been an important agreement signed between Australia, the UK and the US to collaborate on nuclear submarine construction. While this extends nuclear application from civilian energy production to a critical national security role, it will also significantly boost the Defence nuclear engineering workforce.

Along with new nuclear builds comes the decommissioning of older structures, many of which are scheduled to retire from 2026 through to 2028. These projects require a diverse team of skilled Engineers, each bringing specialised knowledge to ensure safe, efficient and environmentally responsible operations.

Nuclear Engineers lead with plans for radiation safety and waste management, while Mechanical and Electrical Engineers manage the dismantling of plant systems and electrical components. Civil Engineers focus on structural aspects, Environmental Engineers assess and mitigate environmental impacts, and Chemical Engineers handle the treatment and disposal of radioactive waste.

Health and Safety Engineers do their due diligence in ensuring compliance with safety standards, while Project Engineers and Project Managers oversee the entire undertaking.

As for regional demand, the Southwest, East, Northwest and Southeast are the major hotspots for nuclear jobs in the UK, according to the latest Nuclear Workforce Assessment data.

Key Nuclear Jobs Skills Needed

As the UK nuclear industry experiences a significant resurgence, the key skills areas needed span three primary categories:

1. Foundational nuclear engineering skills found among university graduates
2. Those with experience in nuclear-specific domains, such as regulation and risk management
3. Experts in emerging nuclear technologies including new reactor types and Small Modular Reactors
4. Specific examples of in-demand engineering roles include Nuclear, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Decommissioning, Reactor Systems and Radioactive Waste Management Engineers.

Finding professionals with this direct expertise is challenging. It’s therefore important for employers to consider devoting parts of their technical recruitment efforts to identifying candidates with transferable engineering skills.

Finding New Talent with Transferrable Engineering Skills

Identifying candidates with the right mix of skills and experience for the nuclear industry involves looking beyond the conventional talent pool. This is especially the case when specialised nuclear job skills are in scarce supply.

From our position in technical recruitment, we suggest you focus on candidates with a solid foundation of core engineering competencies. Depending on the role, this may include those from engineering disciplines such as civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.

Project Managers with experience managing large-scale complex builds are highly valuable, as are those with digital transformation skills, especially as data analysis and cybersecurity are increasingly important in the nuclear field. Experience in a safety-minded industry is also an asset, such as those in chemical or oil and gas.

Soft skills are ever-important. Problem-solving prowess, critical and analytical thinking, and an aptitude for communication and teamwork are indispensable, especially in a field where collaboration across disciplines is the norm.

Ex-military engineers are one example of professionals with transferable skills for UK nuclear jobs. They’re uniquely positioned to bring a wealth of experience to the nuclear work environment, notably their experience with stringent safety protocols, proven capabilities in leadership and teamwork in pressure-filled environments, and problem-solving and resilience skills honed in challenging military contexts. Veterans with backgrounds in naval nuclear engineering and power generation could readily find a place in civilian nuclear environments.

Further Nuclear Energy Jobs Support

For Engineers looking to take an exciting new step in their career, the UK's nuclear industry offers myriad opportunities, ones that contribute to a more sustainable future.
As an employer, you have the chance to be at the forefront of uncovering new nuclear talent by utilising the right technical recruitment strategies.

Here at Alexander Associates, we have a sound knowledge of the UK Nuclear industry. We can be your valued partner in helping you source fresh Engineering talent, or a new opportunity for your Engineering career. Please connect with one of our technical recruitment specialists to find out more.

Kate’s route to her role as Commissioning Manager started with her love for Lego as a child. Her fascination with building things (after taking them apart), coupled with a keen interest in environmental matters, led her to pursue a science-based degree followed by a Master’s in environmental studies. 
 

Justine is an engineer for ISS, working as part of the team supporting schools in the City of London. Having started her career in hospitality, she decided to retrain as an engineer.
 

If you’re a Civil, Structural, Mechanical or Electrical Engineer, the UK space industry is recruiting. Should you take the plunge?  
 
It’s certainly worth considering, as it’s a rapidly evolving industry bursting with technological advancement, exciting opportunities, and excellent working conditions. 
 
Space is also a sector experiencing an immense amount of growth, spurred by developments in space tourism, satellite technology, and exploration missions. This has resulted in soaring demand for engineering professionals from a wide cross-section of industries, ones who naturally possess complementary and transferable skills.  

Here you will uncover a few reasons why you should consider a move into the UK space industry, alongside some of the ground-breaking work you can do in a field filled with infinite possibilities, ones that continually push the limits of human knowledge and capability.  
 

Why Consider a Move into The UK Space Industry? 

The UK space industry is facing an uphill recruitment battle. It’s rapidly growing (77% of space companies are expanding, while the UK government has set a target of 100,000 new space jobs by 2030), but it’s also facing a large engineering talent shortage.  
 
A huge 80% of companies surveyed in the Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 said they had struggles recruiting the talent they need, with close to 70% saying the top reason was they didn’t have enough applicants.  
 
This bodes extremely well for your chances of success in landing engineering jobs in the UK space industry. It also gives you a little extra leverage when it comes to remuneration and benefits negotiation.   
 
While that is a great reason in itself to consider a job in the space sector, there are numerous others.  
 
You’ll have an opportunity to build a dynamic, challenging and impactful career, right at the forefront of technological advancement. You’ll contribute to significant scientific and pioneering projects like spacecraft design, satellite technology, and maybe even habitats for other planets. Reusable rockets, novel propulsion systems, satellite in-orbit servicing – the examples are endless! 
 
Many engineers initially decide on their career path as it offers them a chance to make an impact, whether directly on their community or on a global scale. In the UK space industry, you have the prospect to do a little (or a lot) of both. Some space sector initiatives improve communication networks or monitor environmental changes, while others give you the opportunity to get involved with missions that exponentially advance human knowledge.   
 
In addition, you will have an abundance of choices in the types of companies you could join. There are nearly 1,600 UK organisations with confirmed space-related activities, according to the UK Space Industry 2022 report. There are the big players, like Airbus Defence and Space, and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, but a growing number of smaller outfits and start-ups too.   
 
If you’re concerned with your lack of space-related knowledge, almost three-quarters (72%) of the organisations surveyed in the government’s Space Sector report said they provide on-the-job training, both formal (92%) and informal (84%).  
 
As for working conditions, you’ll enjoy plenty of interdisciplinary collaboration with a diverse range of professionals, from scientists to IT experts, to further enhance your knowledge base and skillsets.  
 

What Type of Engineering Work Can I Do in The UK Space Industry? 

If you have an engineering background, there is a wealth of exciting career opportunities in the UK's space sector. Here are a few examples: 
 

Civil and Structural Engineers

Civil and Structural Engineers can get involved in designing and constructing facilities, such as launch pads, spaceports, and ground stations, as well as ground facilities for satellite manufacturing, testing, and control centres.  
 
For ground-based satellite facilities, Civil Engineers can assess and mitigate environmental impacts. 

If you like research and development, you could also work with space-related infrastructure agencies or companies specifically focused on this. 
 
Specific skillsets you can use: 
 
1.Your deep understanding of structural integrity is crucial for designing and analysing space infrastructure. 
2. Your materials science knowledge, particularly how they behave under various conditions including extreme environments, is very useful when selecting appropriate materials for spacecraft and other space structures. 
3. Your expertise in sustainable design and environmental impact assessments is important as the space industry increasingly focuses on these vital areas. 
4. Your risk analysis and mitigation proficiency, perhaps from working in construction or civil engineering, can be applied to identifying and addressing potential risks in space missions. For example, minimising vibrations is important for spacecraft during the launch, orbit, and landing phases. 

 

Mechanical Engineers

Mechanical Engineers contribute to the design and construction of spacecraft, satellites and rovers, but can also specialise in the development of spacecraft propulsion systems, or managing spaceships’ thermal and fluid systems. 
 
Specific skillsets you can use: 
1. Your design and analytical skills to make adjustments and/or improvements to mechanical systems for spacecraft, satellites and exploration rovers. 
2. Your thermal and fluid dynamics knowledge to design and manage systems that operate efficiently. 
3. Your expertise in advanced manufacturing processes, which are important for producing high-quality and reliable components for space missions. 
4. You may have mechatronics and robotics experience which can be applied to the development of space rovers, robotic arms spaceships, and other automated systems used in space exploration. 
 

Electrical Engineers

As an Electrical Engineer, you can get involved in the design and maintenance of satellites and communications, or work on the electronic systems that control spacecraft, including sensors and control mechanisms – both essential for space missions. 
 
You can also develop spacecraft and space station power systems utilising solar arrays and battery technologies. 
 
Specific skillsets you can use: 
1. Your skills in designing and integrating complex electrical circuits can be applied to spacecraft electronics and power systems. 
2. Your expertise in signal processing and communications is vital for satellite communications and data transmission from space missions. 
3. Your experience in designing and working with sensors and instrumentation is critical for data collection and analysis in space explorations. 
 

Are There Other Engineering Skills I Can Use In A Space Career? 

No matter your field of engineering, it’s likely you will have a cache of transferable skills that are vital in a space career.  
 
From our perspective as an engineering recruiter, we can confidently say there’s been a significant shift in the emphasis employers place on soft skills, often over technical skills, which can mostly be developed on the job.  
 
Your transferable engineering skills include: 
· Problem-solving for tackling complex and unstructured problems (a frequent occurrence in space projects) 
· Innovation, creativity, and analytical thinking are all core abilities in developing and working with new technologies for space applications. 
· Teamwork and collaboration allows you to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams. 
·  Project management acumen, especially around managing timelines and resources, crucial skills for long-duration, high-cost and high-risk space programmes.  
·  Adaptability and flexibility are both highly valued abilities in the rapidly evolving space field. 
 

How Do I Find Space Engineering Jobs in the UK? 

From innovative work on cutting-edge projects to a growing industry with a profusion of career opportunities, there are many compelling reasons to consider making a switch to the UK space industry as an engineer.  
 
The quickest path to finding the best space engineering jobs the UK has to offer is to engage with a specialist space engineeringrecruiter. Here at Alexander Associates, we’ve invested a significant amount of time and effort in building relationships with many of the UK’s leading space companies. Please connect withone of our experts to find out more about the space roles we have on offer, or to discuss what a switch to the space industry might look like for you.

Kate Bullen is the Commissioning Manager at Wessex Water, having moved through various engineering roles throughout her career.

With a passion for the environment and a commitment to workplace diversity, Kate is an inspiration to many. We sat down with Kate to learn more about her journey from a child interested in mechanical toys, to becoming an innovator in her field.

Early Inspirations

From a young age, Kate was interested in practical toys and building. “One of my earliest memories is my dad and I building Meccano…I played with very practical toys from an early age and that was very much encouraged.”

As she grew up, Kate recalls becoming passionate about the environment and points to David Attenborough as a key inspiration. “Those sorts of things made me want to do something better for the environment, to make the world a better place.”

She was also grateful for her exceptional physics and maths teachers in school, whose encouragement never made her question whether she wanted to take physics – even if it was a less common subject for girls!

Educational Journey

At school, Kate was initially unsure about what career she wanted to pursue, but has “always been passionate about water and passionate about the environment.”

This passion led her to study Environmental Chemistry at university. During her studies, Kate's enthusiasm for water-related subjects intensified. She reflects, “I'd done a huge range of different types of environmental courses and I really, really liked the water ones.” This growing interest also caught the attention of her professors. “The guy in charge of my degree sat me down and suggested I’d be very suitable for taking a masters degree.”

During her master’s, Kate discovered an interest for sewage treatment – and her hands-on experience during her summer at Eastbourne Sewage Works was particularly formative (albeit smelly!). “I spent my summer at Eastbourne Sewage Works looking at fat removal from municipal sewage which, despite being very smelly, I really, really enjoyed and that has set the path of my career.”

Kate’s First Engineering Job

Kate's professional journey began at Bechtel Water, where she was part of a structured graduate programme. “It was approximately 60 graduates a year across the business. So, there were 240 over the whole four-year training programme.”

She quickly demonstrated her aptitude for on-site work, noting “They very quickly found out that I was more site material than office material.” She enjoyed being out on site, but also began to experience the effects of gender inequality on-site. “Out on site was the first time I started to feel a bit different.”

Although the presence of female graduates in other departments at Bechtel was reassuring, there weren’t many female engineers around in Kate’s department – in fact, Kate was the only one!

Gender Inequality On-Site

On-site, Kate found that her male colleagues often did not respect her authority. “They struggled to take direction from me. Was it because I was female? Was it because I was very young? I should imagine it was a mixture of both. Was it because I was quite loud and bossy? Possibly that as well.”

Despite these challenges, Kate found support among many of her colleagues, who valued her presence and contributions. She reflects, “A lot of the guys quite liked having a woman on site because it's a different sense of humour.”

Transition to Wessex Water and Leadership

After her role at Bechtel Water, Kate moved on to agency work, taking on several different positions. Her expertise and adaptability eventually led her to Wessex Water. “I took an agency position with Wessex Water, to commission chemical dosing plants for phosphorus removal.”

She was then offered a job as a staff engineer, working her way up from senior engineer to Commissioning Manager.

Although Kate was hesitant at first – “most engineers I've spoken to don't have any desire to be a people manager, and I certainly didn't” – she quickly found a passion for leadership and management, realising that “a good manager can make a massive difference to somebody's life.”

The Impact of Menopause

One of the drivers for Kate’s transition from engineer to manager was the menopause symptoms she began to experience. “The brain fog for me was the worst thing I've ever experienced, and it threw me. I'd be mid-conversation and my mind would go blank, or I'd be in a meeting with people looking at me and start thinking, oh my goodness, what's wrong with me? And I didn't know that was even a symptom of menopause.”

She also suffered from bad fatigue – “What I'd be able to do normally for several days in a row, I'd do it once and it would take three or four days to recover.”

Kate stresses the significance of vocal advocacy and support for women experiencing menopause in the workplace. She described one of the supportive measures implemented in her organisation: “We call them menopause coffee mornings, where you can go along and have a chat about it.”

Empowering Women in Engineering

“I love the idea of doing research,” Kate shares enthusiastically, highlighting her commitment to innovation in her field. “It has to continue because the technology we have at the moment doesn't meet the treatment standards we're going to have to achieve in the future.”

She’s also passionate about using her experience and position to empower the next generation of engineers. “Something I feel I'm now able to do, and something I want to do over the next few years, is help people - especially young women, maybe from disadvantaged backgrounds,” she says.

Kate leaves us with this powerful message: “Gender should be the last thing people worry about when they look at where they want to go. Look at your personality, look at your capabilities, look at who you are and what you want to achieve. Never turn around and say, as a woman I don't think I should be doing that.”

Women in engineering are shaping the future of the industry in the UK. If you're looking to explore more opportunities in this field, or would like to access career resources for female engineers, reach out to Alexander Associates – our team of experts would love to help.

Starting Out in Hospitality Management

After completing her A-levels, Justine completed a degree in institutional management in the 1990s, specialising in hospitality areas such as hotels and catering – an industry she would remain in for “decades”.

As the years wore on, she started noticing signs it was time for a change.

Trying on Other Roles for Size

Eager for a fresh start, Justine dipped her toes into recruitment for a few years before realising that industry wasn’t for her, either. “I'm just not a salesperson,” she notes. From there, she tried her hand at office management at BP, before deciding she was ready to try something new.
 
But soon, another challenge appeared on the horizon.
 

Battling Illness

“I had a period of time when I was unwell, so I had ME [Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic fatigue syndrome] for three, four years and I was actually wheelchair bound — my life changed,”Justine explains.
 
It was a chapter of her life that was “stressful and daunting”, but helped shift perspective on her professional aspirations. “I just thought, 'life is short, Justine'. I went to a couple of interviews for office management again and I thought, I just can't sell myself here.”
 

Discovering Her Calling

At this point in her life, Justine considered what aspects of work appealed to her most. “I love hospitality which is hands-on,” she says, and “I don't want to be desk-bound. I enjoy problem solving. I enjoy people”.
 
Ultimately, Justine wanted a career where she could make an immediate impact and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done whilst steering clear of ‘office politics’ environments.
 
“And I just said, you know what, I'm going to retrain and I'm going to become a plumber.”
 

Starting a Plumbing Apprenticeship

Keen to start her pivot into a plumbing career, Justine began with three-month fast track plumbing course whilst working at BP, with the understanding that gaining hands-on work experience would be the biggest challenge.

Justine applied to women-only plumbing company Stopcocks, but was told she didn’t have sufficient experience. Fortunately, a colleague at BP discovered Justine’s plans to become a plumber, and said to her “you need to speak to my mate Fred”.

A gruff Irishman in his 60s, Fred was initially reluctant to take on a female apprentice, Justine says. But her determination was obvious, and Fred took her on. “He taught me so much”, she says.

Making Inroads into a New Trade

Working as a plumber’s apprentice was a test of Justine’s resilience and confidence, as she worked with no pay and received no support to succeed. “I did a lot of self-talking to myself, going into work,” she says.

“I remember going like, just, you can do this, just be calm, watch and learn and just accept you're not going to get your hands on the tools.”

Justine carefully watched and listened, absorbing all she could about plumbing techniques and know-how. Professionalism — including safety standards — in domestic services environments is less of a concern compared to commercial plumbing work, she notes. But the experience as a domestic plumbing apprentice strengthened her resolve.

The Dynamics of a Male-Dominated Workplace

Working in an all-male environment, Justine said she was referred to on-site as ‘Doris’, simply because she was a woman. Prejudice is still an issue for women in male-dominated workplaces, and is especially prevalent when males group together. “When I was away from Fred, the guys, one-to-one, it was very, very different, with really open conversations [with male colleagues],” she says.

Another Door Opens

Eventually Justine was approached by a friend about another apprenticeship opportunity specific for older or female workers. Whilst the timing was seemingly perfect, Justine had put in years of effort just to get her foot in the door. Now was her chance to shine in an engineering role where she could “really start to fly”.

The Plumbing Industry is Evolving Fast

 There is a real need to change perceptions of disciplines like plumbing to not only attract more women in engineering but young people more broadly.

“I think they need to move away from always seeing as engineers hard-hat, high-vis, goggles. Because at the end of the day, people think, oh god, it's a dirty environment I'm working in.

“But if you go into a new building now, everything is operated with [digital] technology.  All the valves open with technology,”she says. Far from being a fully manual role, plumbing and related engineering jobs are becoming increasingly digitised.

She adds, “I think it's a fantastic industry and there's so much diversity and scope out there.”

Take The Next Step

Ready to start a new career path in engineering? Our core missions at Alexander Associates are to champion women in engineering and connecting engineers to their ideal roles across the UK. To discuss the broad range of opportunities on offer, contact the team today. 

Name: Titi Oliyide
Job Title: Senior Process Safety Engineer
Location:  Manchester/London

When did you realise that a career in engineering was right for you? Was there a particular moment in your life?

I became interested in engineering from a young age. As a child, I always asked a lot of questions about why things worked the way they did. One of the things I found fascinating was the cooking process of converting raw ingredients into delicious food.

My fascination and curiosity were encouraged by my very supportive parents and siblings. In school, I also thoroughly enjoyed the logical lessons in maths and physics. Based on my interests and discussions with family and friends, I decided to study chemical engineering at university.
 
What does an average day look like for you?

No two days are the same! I get involved in a range of activities such as leading hazard identification workshops with a team of engineers from different disciplines, brainstorming potential solutions to mitigate/eliminate hazardous scenarios with my colleagues, or analysing engineering documents to carry out risk assessments or design reviews for safety.

I work in a company that is developing a pioneering electrolyser technology, so there are different challenges to solve on a daily basis! As a safety engineer, it is also important that I have a good overview of the engineering process/system, so I can identify what could go wrong and put measures in place to eliminate/reduce the risk of hazardous scenarios.

Some days, I get invitations to speak to the younger generation to consider STEM careers – I thoroughly enjoy the opportunities to share my excitement about engineering and my engineering career so far.
 
How did you get into this career? What qualifications did you get?

I studied to obtain a Bachelor’s degree at University of Lagos, Nigeria in Chemical Engineering. Afterwards, I moved to the UK to complete my Master’s degree in advanced chemical engineering (Process Systems specialisation) from Imperial College London.

My journey into process safety engineering began at my first role after my master’s degree, where I worked on safety, risk and reliability assessments for oil and gas facilities. I’ve also achieved professional registration as a Chartered Engineer in September 2022.
 
Did you face any challenges with your career decision as a woman engineer?

One of the challenges is the misconception is that women are not suited for some (or any!) areas of engineering. This is mainly due to the depiction of engineering in the media. Usually, the first thing that comes to mind when we think of engineering is hard hats and greasy overalls.

While this is part of engineering, other engineering areas exist. This is why I am passionate about demystifying the engineering profession. Engineering is generally about solving societal challenges. As women make up roughly half of the human population, we should be adequately represented in the solutions to these challenges.
 
What advice would you give to young girls considering a career in engineering?

Boldly explore new opportunities and challenge the status quo. Engineering is a great way to contribute to solving global challenges working with other skilled people in the industry. Despite the prevailing stereotypes, there is no one way an engineer should look like. Seize every opportunity to contribute your unique skills to solving challenges we face in the world today.
 
Do you have any standout memories/funny/interesting stories from your career as an engineer?

I have quite a few! However, the one that stands out would be the opportunity to ride in a helicopter to an offshore oil and gas facility in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. This was my first opportunity to see, in real life, various equipment which I had only previously encountered in drawings or videos. 

Name: Georgina Andrew
Job Title: Graduate Civil Engineer (Former Civil Engineering Graduate Apprentice)
Location: Based in Aberdeenshire (Design office location: Edinburgh)

 
When did you realise that a career in engineering was right for you? Was there a particular moment in your life?
 
Becoming an Engineer wasn’t necessarily something I thought about as a young child probably because I didn’t realise it was an option. It wasn’t until my teenage years that I realised the subjects I enjoyed at School aligned with a career in engineering. These were maths and sciences alongside my passion for art & design. I really enjoyed the structures topic we did in our engineering science class in Secondary School and in 2017 I successfully gained an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship. As part of the scholarship, I was able to go on work experience to a large infrastructure project. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see some ‘real-life’ civil engineering taking place on-site. A combination of all these experiences made me certain that civil engineering was the right career choice for me.
 
What does an average day look like for you?
 
In civil engineering, every day is different. Some days I work remotely, others at the office and sometimes I go out on-site but regardless of this, I start work at 8 am and usually begin by reviewing and replying to emails. I then go through my tasks for the day and check in with my team members at work. My main responsibilities include drafting design drawings, undertaking structural calculations, writing reports, and undertaking project management tasks. I like to make a start on big tasks in the morning then I can use my lunch break to reflect on what I’ve done and re-set my thoughts to continue in the afternoon. My workday usually finishes at 4:30 pm.
 
How did you get into this career? What qualifications did you get?
 
I had originally planned on studying civil engineering at University but realised that through a graduate apprenticeship, I could work and gain valuable experience as well as study at the same time. At School, I completed Scottish Higher qualifications in maths, english, physics, engineering science, geography, spanish, and german. I specifically required maths and sciences to get into my Civil Engineering Graduate Apprenticeship University course. I have now completed a BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering degree through the Graduate Apprenticeship route.
 
Did you face any challenges with your career decision as a woman engineer?
 
Personally, I didn’t face any major challenges with my career decision as a woman engineer. I think perceptions that certain careers are solely for males are changing albeit slowly. Some people were surprised when I told them that I was entering a career in engineering however I have been lucky to have a great support network around me who never questioned if it was the right career choice for me as a woman. I do often find myself in situations at work where the room or site is male-dominated but I don’t let this deter me. I am aware that gender disparity in engineering careers is unfortunately still very common and this drives me on as a STEM ambassador to change the perception of career stereotypes.
 
What advice would you give to young girls considering a career in engineering?
 
My advice to any young girls considering a career in engineering would be to remain confident with your decision-making ability and take every opportunity that comes your way. It can be easy to shy away from taking on responsibility when you work in a male-dominated environment however you are an engineer because you have the correct skills and qualities to be one so don’t be afraid to show off your great work. Just give everything your best shot!
 
Do you have any standout memories/funny/interesting stories from your career as an engineer?
 
A standout memory for me was going on-site during the construction stage to a project that I was the Lead Designer for. I was involved in the project from initiation through to construction so worked on it for a considerable amount of time. It was the first time I had seen something I had designed being constructed out on-site so it was definitely a proud and memorable moment for me.

Name: Siu Mun Li      
Job Title: Head of Temporary Works Engineering, Multiplex Construction Europe
Location: London

 
When did you realise that a career in engineering was right for you? Was there a particular moment in your life?

From a very young age, I followed my dad when he was doing DIY and always wanted to have a go myself. I remember my mum telling my dad not to let me see him using a hammer because I would also want to hammer things but maybe not the right things! I have always had a love of Lego, building things and also taking things apart to see how they worked but I never really knew what an engineer was.

I only realised that a career in engineering was right for me about three months into my first job, I loved it and still love it today! 
 
What does an average day look like for you?

It’s hard to say what an average day looks like because I don’t think I have ever had teo days the same in over 23 years.

The nature of my current role as the Head of Temporary Works Engineering covering all our UK projects requires a lot of communication and liaising with engineers and project teams.

One minute I could be in a co-ordination meeting, the next minute I could be either on a general site visit, providing construction training to future talent or problem-solving site issues that may arise. This is what makes construction and engineering an exciting industry to work in.
 
How did you get into this career? What qualifications did you get?

I can’t say that I really knew what I wanted to do as a career.  I didn’t know what an engineer did when I was choosing my A-Levels but I took a risk on the advice of a family friend who was a civil engineer and said that I would make a good engineer one day. 

Based on this and after my A-Levels, I chose to study Civil Engineering at university and came out of university with a Civil Engineering degree.

Did you face any challenges with your career decision as a woman engineer?

My parents were more concerned about my choice of career than I was.  As a woman who is short and of an ethnic minority entering a male-dominated industry, I understand their concerns but when I started my career, I was unfazed and thought I could do anything I put my mind to.

There have been challenges throughout my career, I started as the only female on site and men often assumed that I had an admin role as it was very rare to be female and an engineer over 20 years ago.  Fortunately, this mindset has shifted, and we have many more amazing female engineers in the industry now.
 
What advice would you give to young girls considering a career in engineering?

Just do it!  You can be whoever you want to be and do whatever you want to do if you have passion, drive and a positive mind. 

There are always people around who are more than willing to help and encourage future construction professionals so don’t be afraid to try something new and go after your dreams.
 
Do you have any standout memories/funny/interesting stories from your career as an engineer?

I have so many funny, amazing and interesting stories and memories from my career as an engineer, where do I start? On my very first project I was on site doing some monitoring and I could see the survey manager setting out some points for construction in the river. It was low tide; his assistant was in the river and he was approximately 100m away.

As his assistant was moving to locate the points, with the soft mud of the riverbed, her feet were slowly getting stuck in the mud to the point that she couldn’t get out.  She had to be rescued by the site team and we needed the crane to assist. She came out of the river without her boots as they were stuck fast and to this day, I don’t know if the boots remained in the river or not.

Working on Crossrail, I was responsible for co-ordinating and managing the largest archaeological excavation in Europe (at that time). We excavated 3,500 skeletons from the Bedlam burial ground prior to the construction of the Liverpool Street Crossrail station.