Meet a Woman Engineer - Georgina Andrew

Name: Georgina Andrew
Job Title: Graduate Civil Engineer (Former Civil Engineering Graduate Apprentice)
Location: Based in Aberdeenshire (Design office location: Edinburgh)

 
When did you realise that a career in engineering was right for you? Was there a particular moment in your life?
 
Becoming an Engineer wasn’t necessarily something I thought about as a young child probably because I didn’t realise it was an option. It wasn’t until my teenage years that I realised the subjects I enjoyed at School aligned with a career in engineering. These were maths and sciences alongside my passion for art & design. I really enjoyed the structures topic we did in our engineering science class in Secondary School and in 2017 I successfully gained an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship. As part of the scholarship, I was able to go on work experience to a large infrastructure project. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see some ‘real-life’ civil engineering taking place on-site. A combination of all these experiences made me certain that civil engineering was the right career choice for me.
 
What does an average day look like for you?
 
In civil engineering, every day is different. Some days I work remotely, others at the office and sometimes I go out on-site but regardless of this, I start work at 8 am and usually begin by reviewing and replying to emails. I then go through my tasks for the day and check in with my team members at work. My main responsibilities include drafting design drawings, undertaking structural calculations, writing reports, and undertaking project management tasks. I like to make a start on big tasks in the morning then I can use my lunch break to reflect on what I’ve done and re-set my thoughts to continue in the afternoon. My workday usually finishes at 4:30 pm.
 
How did you get into this career? What qualifications did you get?
 
I had originally planned on studying civil engineering at University but realised that through a graduate apprenticeship, I could work and gain valuable experience as well as study at the same time. At School, I completed Scottish Higher qualifications in maths, english, physics, engineering science, geography, spanish, and german. I specifically required maths and sciences to get into my Civil Engineering Graduate Apprenticeship University course. I have now completed a BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering degree through the Graduate Apprenticeship route.
 
Did you face any challenges with your career decision as a woman engineer?
 
Personally, I didn’t face any major challenges with my career decision as a woman engineer. I think perceptions that certain careers are solely for males are changing albeit slowly. Some people were surprised when I told them that I was entering a career in engineering however I have been lucky to have a great support network around me who never questioned if it was the right career choice for me as a woman. I do often find myself in situations at work where the room or site is male-dominated but I don’t let this deter me. I am aware that gender disparity in engineering careers is unfortunately still very common and this drives me on as a STEM ambassador to change the perception of career stereotypes.
 
What advice would you give to young girls considering a career in engineering?
 
My advice to any young girls considering a career in engineering would be to remain confident with your decision-making ability and take every opportunity that comes your way. It can be easy to shy away from taking on responsibility when you work in a male-dominated environment however you are an engineer because you have the correct skills and qualities to be one so don’t be afraid to show off your great work. Just give everything your best shot!
 
Do you have any standout memories/funny/interesting stories from your career as an engineer?
 
A standout memory for me was going on-site during the construction stage to a project that I was the Lead Designer for. I was involved in the project from initiation through to construction so worked on it for a considerable amount of time. It was the first time I had seen something I had designed being constructed out on-site so it was definitely a proud and memorable moment for me.