Search for
Search for
Search forA challenge to stereotypes in the workplace
Monday, November 10, 2008, 23:00
Lucy, now 35, of Exmouth, said: "I went into the big wide world and got laughed at.
"People said 'We don't have girls that do that', even though it was the early 1990s."
When she applied for one job, the men interviewing her asked when she planned to have babies. She said: "Their boss happened to be female and she rang me and apologised profusely."
But Lucy, who now works in systems control for waste management firm Viridor, challenged people's misconceptions and, 15 years later, is still in the job. When working in Southampton, she even became the first woman to win a prestigious engineering award.
"It was a nice surprise," she said. "I achieved more than I thought I could and proved to everyone that I am not bad."
Her experiences made her more determined to do well.
"I have never been able to just get by," she said. "I have always had to make sure I do things 150 times better than anyone else. Do that for 18 years and you become a very thorough worker."
Nowadays, Lucy gets a different reaction when she tells people what she does.
"They think it's great and start asking technical questions," she said. "I get asked advice on quite a few things. It's quite nice."
Most female engineers Lucy knows are in their 30s and 40s. She would like to see more young women pursuing a career in engineering.
"I always help my friends with their stuff," she said. "It is nice when you show girls what to do because they usually can do it, and do it perfectly."
Now, she is taking part in a project designed to challenge gender stereotypes at work. Named Trading Places, it is aimed at improving access to learning and employment in non-traditional sectors, and improving recruitment where there are skills shortages.
Lucy wants to encourage more young women to apply for apprenticeships in engineering.
"It doesn't just open an engineering door," she said. "It actually gives you the tools to be professional, articulate and very skilled over a wide base.
"You can apply it to so many things. I specialised in the petrochemical industry, but I also understand elements of the aircraft industry and the car manufacturing industry.
"You just look at the world with a different set of eyes and it changes your whole life. Engineering is interesting, it's challenging and it's always different."
Lucy enrolled on a four-year engineering apprenticeship with Winfrith Technology Centre in Dorset at 16.
"I was lost when I was at school," she said. "I was very much a tomboy and did electronics and physics — I didn't do any 'girlie' subjects."
When she finished her apprenticeship, Lucy worked at BP and Esso oil refineries, then moved to Devon, getting a job with South West Water.
Offered a job at SWW's sister company Viridor, she now travels around its South West depots, ensuring they conform to health and safety and environmental legislation.
"IYou get to cover the whole of the South West and you are never in one place for very long," she said.
Viridor is offering three apprenticeships in HGV workshops. For details, visit recruitment@viridor-waste.co.uk or call 01823 721436.
