To thank our female engineers who help deliver water to our 2.2 million customers through 9,000 miles of pipes, we’re joining the Women’s Engineering Society in celebrating International Women in Engineering day 2022.
International Women in Engineering Day is a day to encourage more young women to take up engineering careers. Currently, only 16.5% of engineers are women.
We’re introducing you to Mandy Billett, Environmental Performance Manager, Anna Harris, Environmental Performance Manager, Holly Venables, Quantity Surveyor, and Moyra Thomason, Environmental Performance Officer. We’re discussing what life is like working as an engineer at South East Water.
How did you get into engineering? What made you choose this career?
Mandy: “It was by luck. I’ve always been interested in the world around me, doing all kinds of voluntary work and spending time in the countryside, but I had no idea it could pay my bills! A volunteering contact asked if I was interested in a job where he worked, and the rest is history! I started my professional career as an Ecologist, which I loved. I started working for South East Water as a Consultant, and before taking on an earlier version of my current role. I say that our job is a Jack-of-all-trades, and I enjoy learning about all the different environmental aspects.”
Anna: “I have always loved the outdoors and learning about the environment around us but didn’t know what career I could choose. After completing a degree in Marine Environmental Science, my first role within a consultancy mapping Open Countryside on GIS gave me a real insight into the different environmental disciplines in the industry and great site visits in the countryside. Having worked for other consultants and utilities including Sydney Water in Australia, I really enjoy the variety involved with the role and that we are doing our bit in protecting the environment.”
Holly: "I was given the opportunity by chance after graduating and worked as a QS at Balfour Beatty, then Clancy. I had to break to have children and then was contacted by a member of the team I used to work with at Clancy to return but with South East Water. This is my favourite employer.
I had to break to have children and then was contacted by a member of the team I used to work with at Clancy to return but with South East Water. This is my favourite employer.
Moyra: “Inspirational teachers for both chemistry and environmental studies led me to study environmental chemistry, and then my career path opened up the wide range of opportunities encompassed within the word environment. I chose to specialise in the glamourous world of waste, monitoring landfill sites and working with waste operators to obtain environmental permits. A decision to challenge myself resulted in a job with Clancy as an Environmental Advisor and back to consideration of all aspects of the environment, including many I had not had exposure to before, for example, archaeology and ecology. The chance to consider the wider environment and be involved with the engineering decisions, making sure environmental safety is as important as people’s health and safety, prompted the move to South East Water. So from initially being excited by protecting the environment on the molecular level to looking at the whole ecosystem and built environment, those teachers have a lot to answer for!”
How easy is it for you to work and balance other life commitments?
Mandy: “Thanks to South East Water accepting our proposal to job share, we are very fortunate to have a really good balance between work and other commitments. Anna and I both work very hard on our working days, but on the days when we are not working, we don’t need to consciously think about work at all, as we know that our job share partner will be capably of looking after everything. This has made us happier at work and home, and healthier too, in mind and body! That said – while we might not actively think about work on our days off, sometimes that’s when the best ideas come, which we can implement when we are back in.”
Thanks to South East Water accepting our proposal to job share, we are very fortunate to have a really good balance between work and other commitments.
Anna: “As Mandy has said, our job share is a great example where we have been able to continue in our management role with flexible working. We work hard to fulfil the demands of a challenging role, with a team of eight managing environmental risks for engineering and operational works across the South East Water catchment, while still maintaining our work-life balance. We’re both fully committed and motivated with varied experience to bring to the role, feel fortunate to be able to continue our careers in this way and are keen advocates to be role models across the industry and South East Water, to others who would be interested in job sharing.”
Holly: “With working from home, the element of travel being taken out makes my role possible. Sometimes it’s tricky, but having an understanding employer helps.”
Moyra: “I work part-time, this is to allow me time to look after my mother. My children are grown up and working so I do not have the issues of managing school times or holidays anymore but, alongside my sisters, I visit my mum regularly. She lives near Liverpool so not a quick journey.”
The world of engineering in the water industry is incredibly varied, and there are a number of diverse roles companywide that are successfully undertaken by men and women alike. We are very proud to be an inclusive employer.
We currently have vacancies in a range of departments, and we are always looking for talented and motivated people; whether caring for our customers, working out in the field, within the engineering departments or in our laboratory.
Please visit our dedicated careers website for current vacancies, and why we want to be the company you want to be supplied by, and work for!
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