Inspiring future engineers

As a woman in a male-dominated sector, Lesley wants to inspire students to a career in engineering, regardless of gender.

“I think the main challenge for women in engineering is getting the message out there to the next generation that a career in engineering exists - providing positive role models in every industry.

“We have to inspire people like my daughter and her classmates. If you’re passionate about what you do, share it. Share your experiences, share your knowledge, point out the bridges you’ve helped design, and keep on developing your own skill set.”

Lesley has already started work on inspiring future engineers as she attended the careers fair at Standish Community High School in her local area. “When I left school, I had initially chosen a path towards a degree in architecture, but my A-level physics teacher told me to look into civil engineering as a degree as she thought I would enjoy it more. She was right!

“I don’t think there is enough emphasis on career advice at schools in general, so when I was invited to be part of the careers fair at Standish CHS, I wanted to talk to the students and let them know if they like doing something or if you have a talent for something you can turn your skills into a job. I wouldn’t recommend any career unless you have an interest and a skill set that can be developed. It would be best to enjoy what you do as it’s a massive chunk of your daily routine, and I know I enjoy my job.”

A family affair

Lesley comes from a long line of engineers, and her dad had his own welding and fabrication business, and her uncles had their own successful groundworks business.

"Growing up I was always around engineering. My dad had his own welding and fabrication business and would take me and my younger brother to his works unit at the weekend if he needed to work on something. When dad had completed projects, , he would make a point of taking us in the car and driving past his handywork - I do the same to my children now!

“My Grandad (pictured below) was a foreman for Faircloughs, they would tell us tales from their working days. They would be working on the motorways with a spade in hand, bare chest and no PPE! Early in my career I worked on the motorways with a clerk of works who remembered my grandad. They said he was a giant of a man and a very good foreman. He was fantastic and I think he would be very proud of my career.

Positive role models

When I was a fresh graduate I did expect resistance in a male dominated industry. So I’ve always over compensated by working harder, probably in an attempt to prevent backlash. I still follow this mind set whenever I receive criticism or resistance to change, I just work harder and dig deeper.

A massive influence for women in engineering should be positive role models; it doesn’t matter so much about gender, just somebody close to whom you can look up. For a lot of us in engineering, it was our dads who did construction jobs, and I’m hoping that I can have that influence on my kids, but more than that, I hope I did that for the students at Standish CHS.

Women have made a massive difference in engineering, and we will continue to do so; we just need to help girls understand their potential and give them positive role models to develop them.

Altrad RMD Kwikform continues to encourage the next generation of engineers by investing in training and education in local colleges and universities, while also offering a range of internal apprenticeship programmes.

The aim is to nurture talent from a young age and provide life changing opportunities to the local community.