Emily Owen is a Hydrologist with an Environmental Consultancy. Her focus is flood risk assessment work and surface water drainage design, many of which support planning applications, whilst some involve retrofitting for insurance purposes. With an appetite for acquiring new talents and diversifying her skill set, she has been developing her water management portfolio. Recently, she moved into mine water management and water resource modelling.

“Water management is as it sounds – in terms of a site, water comes in and out. If you get it wrong, you get flooded or run out of water – particularly at sites with high water use. Mine sites need to look at water use in depth. A lot of the time, they're in water-poor regions but use a huge amount of water. Water use now feeds into the ESG journey. Mining is probably one of the earliest industries to adopt ESG from a functionality and future-forward perspective.”

This work started for Emily at the very technical end, doing things like water balance modelling and looking at how water moved through mining systems and processes. Now, Emily is moving into water security and more sustainable water use.
 

The Engineering Idea? 

Emily felt almost felt like engineering was not a choice, but where her studies and interests were always going to take her.

“Going into A-levels, I still loved physical Geography. I was getting frustrated by the end of A2 with Geography being a bit wishy-washy. I wanted to do the sciences behind it. I felt like I should be able to apply what I was doing in the other sciences to my Geography work. So I went and studied Science as an undergraduate. From there, the water element really interested me, so I did a Master’s in Hydrology and Water Resource Management within the Engineering department at Imperial. This brought me into the Engineering world and was probably the point that I realised that what I was doing was actually Engineering.”
 

Women Represented in Study

“I went to Durham for my Undergraduate course, which was probably male-dominated because it sat inside that traditional field of study like Geology. I went on an exchange for my second year. When I returned, I was free to do what I wanted because I wasn’t enrolled in a traditional course. You definitely got changes in the gender mix depending on which modules you took. The more environmental courses tended to draw in more women. Maybe because they're newer, less rigid and are constantly evolving.”
During her Masters, Emily reflects that females and multinationals predominantly represented the group and affirms that her overall study experience was positive. She felt well supported by other aspiring female Engineers throughout her studies.
 

Female Role Models and Representation

When discussing the outward-facing persona of a business and what people – particularly women or those from a diverse group – want to see reflected back at them, Emily agrees it’s not a board or interviewing panel of white middle-class men.
Reflecting on her personal experience with female Engineers and access to senior women or mentors in the industry, Emily shares that shehad a lot of strong male managers, but they’ve always been very comfortable with telling her to seek advice and support from other women where possible so that’s helpful.

“As our company has grown, we have more women in the office, which has helped to bring in more women. Having these female contacts on the bad days and having someone you can talk to is important. Sometimes you don't know if it's a discrimination thing or just a life thing. When you're the only person who meets the female criteria, you don't know the difference. Sometimes you just want to call someone up to cross-check it.”
 

Personal Experiences with Discrimination

“I’ve definitely had moments when I thought I’ve been discriminated against, but I do’'t know that’s been a clear-cut case. Some personality traits that have naturally been encouraged in me have made it difficult to tell. I will always offer somebody a cup of tea or coffee when they arrive somewhere because that’s what I'vebeen brought up to do. But then I found that I was always being asked to make the cups of tea even when I had a male colleague of equal status sitting next to me.”

Was Speaking Up an Option?

“Sometimes I would speak up, but that often made it worse because it made people feel defensive. I reached a point where I spoke to someone in the office and told them how it made me feel. They intercepted the requests and offered to make the drinks.” 
Emily struggles to determine whether the issue was gender or personality based as it was clouded by the circumstance she had always offered in the past. Nonetheless, the request was always directed at her. 

“It's a difficult one because we had no admin support. The truth is that 90% of admin staff are women. So, when you’re the young female in a room, the assumption is that you’ll make the tea. It was something that when I was more junior would really get me going.”
 

What can Schools in the UK do Better to Encourage People into Engineering or Other Expansive Careers?

“Encourage students to go out and look for things they haven’t thought of. There's a lot of information out there. Almost every profession in the UK has an institution that goes with it. They would love to do more with young professionals and students, but the gap between them is quite difficult. They can’t force themselves into a school environment, so maybe the solution is encouraging the interested kids to speak to these groups.”
 

What’s the Biggest Misconception About Engineering? 

The practical misconception

“I think it’s what’s included in engineering. My preconceptions were people sat doing calculations and tapping away at a computer all day. But obviously, the job relates to so many other things. Particularly for graduates. A large proportion of it is site work where you’re out and about interacting with people. I don't think people realise this is a huge part of being an engineer.”

The gender misconception 

“Some of the worst discrimination I’ve faced was while collecting bore water samples. A farmer approached me and asked, “What do you think you're doing young lady?” That phrasing, while quite common, makes you feel like you are five years old with your hair in pigtails. I’m obviously collecting a water sample, doing my engineering role, but there’s this whole misconception that you’re doing something you shouldn’t be doing because you’re a woman.”

When asked whether Emily felt this was a public misconception or if she felt the sentiment is echoed on site too, she shares, “I think you are treated differently some of the time. Partly because it’s a bit more unusual, and they don’t know how to interact with you. But I think some of it is a lack of provision for ladies coming to the site.”
Aside from less-than-ideal facilities, the provision of female-sized safety gear on site has also been an issue historically. According to Emily, this is getting much better. However, things often need to be made to order to accommodate the many variations of the female form.

There can often be a lag time of up to six weeks between placing an order and it arriving. These delays prevent female graduates from being able to get onto site as soon as they hit the workplace, limiting their real-world exposure in the initial stages of their careers. Ill-fitting gear makes it difficult to carry out your work comfortably but also lines you up to be the butt of someone’s joke. And whilst Emily acknowledges that humour and taking the mickey is effectively the love language on a site, it can also make the person on the receiving end feel a bit awkward, especially if this person is a young female graduate.
 
Finding the Right Opportunity

Women can make waves in engineering, and with strong women at the forefront of change, it’s important to know where to find the right opportunities. With the help of our team, you can find your next engineering role that’ll make you feel included and supported. Contact us today and learn more!

Danny is a true diversity champion, and a firm believer in supporting others to achieve their full potential in life. Having worked within healthcare and infrastructure businesses, he’s now in a senior leadership role for a well-regarded trade body, giving him a unique insight into the way organisations operate. 

 

Name: Pamela Hardie
Job Title: Key Account Portfolio Director
Location: Based in Edinburgh covering the UK

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

Once I had successfully achieved my apprenticeship, I knew I wanted to remain in the industry and have a successful career in engineering. I felt because I had come so far, I owed to myself to continue.  
 
What does an average day look like for you?

Currently I am office/home based with occasional site visits and spending days with engineers. When I was a mobile engineer, we serviced commercial properties across the central belt of Scotland. Attending sites for planned preventive maintenance or reactive breakdown jobs.  I worked across multiple trades so could be maintaining, repairing, or installing AC or gas systems to more glamorous work of unblocking toilets. I enjoyed the interaction with the customers and surprising them when a female engineer arrived on site.
 
How did you get into this career? What qualifications did you get?

I knew I wanted to become an apprentice and not attend university however I fell into engineering as my brother had started an apprenticeship the year before, so I followed in his footsteps with encouragement from my father.

I achieved SVQ Level 1, 2 & 3 Heating & Ventilation in Service & Maintenance qualification from North Glasgow College. My company also paid for my driving lessons and test which I successfully passed first time and allocated me my first vehicle which was an Astra van.
 
Did you face any challenges with your career decision as a woman engineer?

I faced many challenges as the only woman on the tools in my company and on my college course. It was harder for me to fit in with the younger men I was attending college with and there were many times I had to share facilities such as changing rooms as they weren’t equipped for women. I also had to deal with being written off daily by the men I worked alongside and customers which isn’t easy at 17. As the saying goes, I had to work twice as hard as a man to be seen as half as good as one. I felt different and felt on some occasions I was treated differently certainly until they got to know me better and found out I was more than capable which I was determined to show everyone!
 
What advice would you give to young girls considering a career in engineering?

Go for it! The career opportunities and earning potential in this industry is massive and it doesn’t just stop at becoming an engineer. Do not doubt yourself or hold yourself back because of your gender because in reality this isn’t a factor in becoming a great engineer, manager or director. Let your work do the talking. I believe attitudes are now changing towards women in engineering and it is far more accepted and accessible than when I started. My granny laughed at me when I told her I was an engineer, I don’t think she believed me, although we still have work to do to promote this career for young women, I believe societal views are shifting.
 
Do you have any standout memories/funny/interesting stories from your career as an engineer?

I really enjoyed being an apprentice and working alongside many great men who have become lifelong friends and allies. 

Name: Lisa Abbott
Job Title: Pre-Construction Director
Location: Birmingham

We're delighted to have worked with Lisa Abbott, who has enjoyed a successsful career in the construction industry, and now holds a senior role working for BAM Construction. 

Here's her story:

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

When I was studying A Levels, I wanted to do something that continued with the maths and sciences I was studying but wanted to do a vocational course at university – rather than studying an academic subject for another 3 or 4 years and still not knowing what career I was going to follow.

After looking through the big book of careers (no Google in those days!) I was interested in Engineering and Quantity Surveying, so I organised a work experience placement at Wimpey Construction in the surveying department – and I loved it! Looking back this was mainly because of the people I worked with, and this is still true today – construction is all about the teams and people we work with.

What does an average day look like for you?

Is it a cliché to say there isn’t an average day? My career has been through a number of iterations to get from quantity survey to preconstruction, but none of them have involved an ‘average day’. Its all about interacting with teams, both internal and external, and developing solutions to the challenges we face on projects and as an industry. Although there can be a theme to the challenges, each project and client is individual and has individual needs.

How did you get into this career? What qualifications did you get?
I went to university to study a degree in Quantity Surveying, and quickly followed that with gaining my MRICS status. After about 10 years in the industry I did an MSc in Construction Project Management, and that was invaluable.

Did you face any challenges with your career decision as a woman engineer?
My parents were unimpressed with my choice, and it was hard going off to university and taking that big step of independence under a bit of a cloud. And when I look back at those early career years, I can see how hard I had to work to integrate with project teams and prove myself as a woman in construction. Although women are still very under-represented in construction and engineering now, I hope their experiences are better now men are used to working with us and appreciate that we are as good as our male counterparts.
 
What advice would you give to young girls considering a career in engineering?
Go for it, it’s a brilliant industry! The opportunities and variety are amazing, and construction needs you. We need a more diverse industry to represent the communities and clients we work for. Our industry transforms communities, all our projects make a difference and if we don’t have diverse teams that understand the stakeholders we work with, how can we deliver long term sustainable solutions.
 
Do you have any standout memories/funny/interesting stories from your career as an engineer?
Visiting the billion-dollar replacement Oakland Bay Bridge project in San Francisco as part of my MSc course was amazing. The scale of engineering to put foundations in San Francisco Bay and off site manufacturing of precast bridge sections was beyond anything else I’ve ever seen, and makes you realise the extreme challenges that engineers can solve.

Ruth talks to Emily Owen, an Associate Hydrologist for SLR Consulting, who shares her career path, and the experiences she has as a woman working in engineering.

I joined Alexander Associates in 2014 as a recruitment consultant. With the right support and advice, I was able to grow my career to an Associate Director. The supportive management team provides all the back-office support and tools you need to independently shape your division the way you want.

In this video, Ruth meets Chelvi Nava, a renowned engineer and writer, and an advocate for encouraging young people into the world of engineering.

 

In this episode, Ruth talks to Katherine Parsons of ISS, who is not only a highly successful engineer, but she's an award-winning D&I speaker and a champion of diversity.

 

We had all the financial support, advice and back office readily available so Scott and I could focus on actually building the team here. If anyone is looking to run their own division or office, they should seriously consider speaking to the Alexander Associates team about how we can support them.

 Alexander Associates, a leading recruitment agency with a storied history, is marking its next phase of evolution and growth; introducing 'Alexander Associates 3.0'.

Established in 1989 by [Jayn Gutteridge and Stavros Koukoumbris], Alexander Associates has long embodied the principles of hard work and delivering the best possible results for clients and candidates across the UK.

Eager to extend the legacy built by the founders, current owners Peter Webb, Ruth Parker and Gareth Jones resolved to carry on their work with a management buyout in 2016, which led the business through its 2.0 era.

"When we sat down with our senior team members, we discussed who we are, where we came from and who we wanted to be. The line that kept coming up is 'we're proud of our legacy'. Alexander Associates was already an amazing business with the core values of honesty, transparency and hard work. We're very proud of that, so that's why we bought the business," says managing director Gareth Jones.

Since 2019, Alexander Associates has entered its 3.0 phase, marking the new chapter with a revamp of the brand, a new focus on expanding the services available to clients and candidates and launching new offices in Brasted, Kent and London.

The company, which specialises in the Civil & Structural Engineering, Water, and Mechanical & Electrical sectors, has recently expanded into Residential Development. New Associate Directors Chris Constantinides and Scott Doody have been appointed to manage the latest vertical in London and have added three new trainees to their team.

"We're proud of our legacy, and excited about our future," Jones says

To help clients and candidates navigate challenging markets, Alexander Associates' teams are utilising their wisdom gained from experiences including Brexit, three IR35 changes and the COVID-19 lockdowns, he adds.

Alexander Associates' intimate knowledge of its clients is one of the key strengths that has enabled the company to expand its services into new areas.

"We've seen the market change a lot, with the growth of master vendors, neutral vendors, and internal recruiters. We've learned a huge amount from those processes, and we've got something different to offer," Jones says.

“There is much potential to engage with clients about strategies for diversifying their supply chains and increasing competition and collaboration amongst suppliers, as well as finding alternatives to master vendors,” he adds. "To do that, we need to continue working with talent we've got inside the business, and to bring in new talent."

The next five years are set to be even more exciting than the past five, notes director Peter Webb.

“There are so many opportunities out there that we can grab and are currently grabbing. We’ve got an amazing team with us that can really help us succeed,” Webb says.

Jones expects that, despite its anticipated business growth, the core Alexander Associates values of honesty, transparency and hard work will be front and centre.

“We don’t want to be a Plc, but we do want to be the largest independent agency in the UK that specialises in our fields. We want to be a large niche agency with specialist services.”

To find out more about how Alexander Associates can help you find quality talent, or if you’re interested in the recruitment career pathways we can offer, get in touch today.