Anna – Student Civil Engineer
Our Cambridgeshire PM, Shelley Lawrence met Anna via Cambridge Regional College where she was undertaking an employability course having returned from travelling whilst deciding on her next step in her career. Anna had an interest in finding out more about Quantity Surveying.
Shelley supported Anna on to training, where she undertook and successfully completed her L1 Health and Safety and CSCS test to gain her Green CSCS Card with Clarion Housing.
To get a further insight into careers in construction Shelley invited Anna to a careers event at Bouygues, which involved talks from others in the industry about their roles and a site visit. Anna took interest in the story and experience of one of the Civil Engineers but was still curious about Quantity Surveying. Shelley spoke to Bouygues who agreed to interview Anna for a mixed work experience placement to explore both options. Shelley helped Anna with interview preparation and Anna secured a work placement. Unfortunately, Covid-19 hit 3 days into Anna’s placement.
From the interview and experience at the careers event, Anna decided that she wanted to explore Civil Engineering further. During lockdown, Shelley arranged for Anna to undertake some remote mentoring sessions with Mimi-Isabella, Assistant Materials Engineer for Sir Robert McAlpine.
Anna also took the time to use lockdown to train further in construction, and Shelley referred her to Clarion Housing again where Anna completed online courses in Induction Safety, Health and Wellbeing and Risk Assessment.
The remote mentoring went really well, with Mimi-Isabella giving Anna insight and confidence to follow a pathway into Civil Engineering. Anna has now applied for and has been accepted onto a Civil Engineering course at university in Brighton, where she will be starting in September.
Anna has been really dedicated to the Women into Construction programme. She wasn’t deterred by her placement ending due to Covid-19 and she instead took the opportunity to undertake more learning and be part of the WiC remote mentoring programme. Anna has come a long way since we first met, I have really enjoyed supporting her and look forward to continuing to be part of her successful journey into construction by organising further experience for her during university breaks. Congratulations on your university place, Anna.
Shelley, Project Manager, Women into Construction
I am extremely passionate about inspiring and motivating the next generation of female engineers! The WIC mentorship programme gave me the perfect opportunity to do this! Especially during the lockdown mentoring Anna really lifted my spirits, thank you Shelley for pairing us!
When I decided to go into the engineering/construction industry I did not have any mentors or anyone to guide me, I understand the importance of mentorship, so I am glad I was able to speak to Anna and assist her during the lockdown.
Mentorship is important because it allows an open dialogue between mentor and mentee. Not only mentees can gain expert knowledge and experiences from there mentors, but mentors can also learn from their mentees! Mentorship can also open the eyes of the mentee to opportunities they wouldn’t have thought of! Mentors are great for career development you will have someone will who help you plan your career and hold you accountable to achieve your goals! Mentorship is key!
Anna is a fantastic young lady who I am 100% sure will smash her degree and will thoroughly enjoy the Civil Engineering degree and university experience. Good luck Anna, I wish you all the best!
Mimi-Isabella, Assistant Materials Engineer, Sir Robert McAlpine and WiC Remote Mentor
Shelley has been a massive part of my pathway to finding what I want to do in the future and has guided me into opportunities, which I would not have been able to do myself. Every decision I have made or worry I have had Shelley took it into consideration and supported me along the way. I went from being incredibly confused to being more at peace knowing the help I’m able to receive. WIC putting me in contact with Mimi-Isabella helped me a lot, Mimi-Isabella gave me the motivation to continue within the industry, every phone call I had made me more excited to peruse the construction industry and made me realise that I just have to be myself and continue trying hard. After being in contact with Mimi-Isabella for a short while she made me realise university may be the right path for me and it’s all trial and error.
I am very grateful for both Shelley and Mimi for helping me along my journey.
Anna, Student Civil Engineer
