Engineering can be a woman's job

Hertfordshire County Council pledged its support for National Women in Engineering Day on June 23 by encouraging more women to join this male-dominated field.

National Women in Engineering Day, is dedicated to raising the profile of women in engineering and focusing on the opportunities available to girls in this exciting industry.

According to the Women’s Engineering Society, only seven per cent of professional engineers in the UK are women.

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Herts County Council, which has practiced gender parity in its workforce for many years, is urging more employers to get involved.

Vicky Saunders is a principal engineer in the council’s highways team, leading the local roads maintenance team.

She said: “I started off as an admin assistant and then worked my way up to the position I am in today.

“I was lucky to be able to earn while I learned, gaining my national and higher certificate in civil engineering while working.

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“I look after the local roads maintenance team that runs the large-scale resurfacing and surface treatment programmes across the whole of Hertfordshire.

“I currently manage a team of 15 staff, which includes engineers, permitting officers and communication officers.

“Right now there are not enough women coming into the profession.

“It is a really rewarding sector to be in, not a boring office job. You’re out in the community and physically engineering the county’s roads.”

For more information about careers at Hertfordshire County Council, visit www.countyofopportunity.co.uk/