Inspiring future female water treatment engineers and operators

We have featured the stories and experiences of some of the women in the Alpheus Team in recent years on Women in Engineering Day. A question often asked of women around this time is “What can the industry do to inspire more young women to consider a scientific or engineering pathway?”.

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A common theme from most is raising awareness of career options, and inspiring interest in the roles and opportunities for girls from a young age. This could be anything from outreach and projects with schools to site tours and work experience.

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So for this Women in Engineering Day, we wanted to celebrate the achievement of a young woman who is just about to start her career journey in the water industry after being inspired through work experience at Alpheus, and by our very own Process Scientist, Anu Palmer.

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In 2020 Jordan joined us for a week’s work experience, where she had the opportunity to gain more insight into the different areas of water and wastewater management – such as Health and Safety; sampling and lab work, and wastewater treatment site operations. Jordan shares her story below:

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The highlight of my week was the time I spent with Anu learning about the wastewater treatment process, lab analysis, safety processes and measures, operational tasks, and much more. It was good to understand the practical side, as well as the impact these things had. I was inspired by the knowledge she had, and how successful she has been in a male-dominated industry.

The week I spent at Alpheus opened my eyes to how interesting and varied a career in wastewater can be, especially the positive impact it can have on wildlife and the environment. It may not be on every teenager’s “dream job” list, but after having the opportunity to discover more and ask a lot of questions, I decided that it was a career I was keen to pursue and, as Alpheus is part of the Anglian Water group,  I was encouraged by the opportunities for progress and learning.

Fast forward a few years, and after more research into the water industry, and gaining a Level 3 Extended Certificate in Countryside Management,  I applied to Anglian Water’s Apprenticeship programme. I am looking forward to starting my role as a Water Recycling Network Technician Apprentice in July 2024!

We’re delighted for Jordan and wish her the very best in her new role. We’re pleased the experience was valuable for her – it was also extremely valuable for us. She was enthusiastic and conscientious, brought with her a fresh perspective and asked a lot of great questions which challenged us to think differently - a vital part of innovation in any industry!