Women are playing a growing role in the North-East construction and engineering industries. Deputy Business Editor Steven Hugill reports

WHEN James Brown sang about it being a man’s world, he did so with the caveat of it being nothing without a woman.

While extolling man’s prowess in making the car and train, as well as his financial strength, the lyrics always ended up returning to the same point; the role of women.

The song could be seen to attest to the woman as neat addition to these achievements of man.

Such a notion is undoubtedly outdated.

It’s also a stereotype dismissed at a stroke in North-East industry.

When construction company Owen Pugh last week announced the appointment of its first ever female plant operator, it was seen a watershed moment for the firm.

Indeed it was.

But it was also a timely reminder of the pivotal role already held by women in construction and engineering across the region and how a landscape so long regarded as a stereotyped masculine stronghold is being continuingly broken down.

Rachel Hoggett, the woman hailed by Owen Pugh, is the company’s first woman plant operator in its aggregates arm’s 100-year history.

She is quick to dismiss the arena as merely a man’s world.

Based at the firm’s site, in Marsden Quarry, near Sunderland, she moves aggregates from crushers into separate stock piles.

The 21-year-old said: “I’m honoured to be the first female plant operator.

“I’ve been here since 2012 and always had plans to progress and build my skills.

“It’s enjoyable having something different to do each day and the fact there are more men in the workplace isn’t an issue at all.

“I think more women should consider a career in the sector.”

The Owen Pugh Group employs more than 360 North-East workers.

That number includes civil engineer Sarah Jopling.

The 24-year-old, from Middlesbrough, joined the company as a graduate in September 2012 as its first female civil engineer.

A year later she was named the Civil Engineering Contractors Association North-East (CECA) Trainee of the Year.

For her too, gender relations are simply not an issue.

She said: “From an early age I was fascinated with the construction of buildings and bridges and seeing progress being made.

“Having been brought up on the family’s farm, I always wanted to work in the outdoors, so pursuing a career in construction was a natural step for me.

“Although I didn’t find out until more recently, my great-great grandad worked on the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during his time at Dorman Long and Co, so maybe it was in the blood?

“Growing up in a male environment with brothers, uncles and farm workers, I was never concerned about entering a profession that’s typically male dominated.

“While I was at school in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, I organised my own work experience in the sector and during my civil engineering degree at Teesside University I undertook a placement with JN Bentley where I was involved in upgrading the white water course at the Tees Barrage.

“I always thought my skills would enable me to excel regardless of gender.

“Working day-to-day with the team at Owen Pugh, gender really doesn’t enter into the equation.

“There are a couple of other women undertaking what I guess would be classed as typically male jobs within the company now, and I hope we can inspire more females to get involved.”

So, gender aside, what are the benefits for a woman getting into the industry?

She added: “I am working as a fully-fledged civil engineer at one of the North East’s leading civil engineering firms, which is a dream job.

“Day-to-day work involves setting out, quality control, supervising and setting the labour to work, as well as site management.

“Health and safety is key and I’m responsible for putting together documents, such as risk assessments, site inductions and generally overseeing health and safety on site.

“I’ve had the chance to work on projects at Gibside, Cramlington Hospital and at Clifford’s Fort among others, and I’m now working at Teesport on behalf of PD Ports on the construction of the new intermodal terminal.

“I want to boost my skills and experience and progress as far as possible.

“Owen Pugh has already supported me through additional training and I’m working with the Institution of Civil Engineers on my professional development plan.”

Douglas Kell, CECA director, said companies have changed their stance, with women playing an increasingly important role across their operations.

While welcoming that, he also said it was vital more women looked at the industry as an option, particularly with a forecast skills shortage in engineering.

He said: “We have got to get away from the old-fashioned perception that this is a man’s world.

“That has long gone.

“If the increase in work is going to come, losing 50 per cent of your workforce at a stroke is obviously not the right thing to do.

“There are a lot of women civil engineers out there, across the North-East and the UK as a whole, and we are trying everything we can to attract more.

“It is not all about digging holes and laying bricks.

“There is a lot more to the industry than that and women should be thinking about it.”

Kristen Taylor works for Sir Robert McAlpine as a site-based engineer looking at the progress of construction projects.

Interested in geography and science in her younger days, she gained work experience at geotechnical firm Allied Exploration and Geotechnics, and took on a full-time role after school.

Day release to college meant she met other civil and structural engineers, and looking for a new challenge, she applied for a role at McAlpine, starting in 2003.

She admits to feeling like she has to prove herself because of her sex, but again, highlights just how rewarding the sector can be.

She said: “I’m responsible for managing and co-ordinating the progress of work, ensuring it is completed on time and within budget as well as ensuring they are carried out safely and to specification.

“I’m on my secondment to the McAlpine Design Group, where I have been gaining experience in designing drainage, underground service networks, steelwork frames, reinforced concrete and retaining walls as well as drafting drawings for site.

“As a woman you do feel that you need to prove yourself, I try to prepare well and get to know the job inside out which gives me confidence and earns me respect on site.

“Construction is a male dominated industry.

“However, it didn’t put me off pursuing a career.

“I have found it easy to work within a predominately male team.

“There are excellent opportunities for women in this industry and I would encourage more to consider a career in construction and engineering.”

Simply a man’s world?

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