Breaking the bias this International Women’s Day

This year’s theme is #BreaktheBias: ‘Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn’t enough, action is needed to level the playing field.’

Here at Welsh Water, we’re conscious of the water industry’s traditionally male-dominated roots, and are proud to champion women across the organisation, whether they work in our operations team, our IT team, our contact centre or further afield. Women now make up 30% of our total workforce (from around 21% nearly a decade ago).

As part of our commitment to address long-term barriers for underrepresented groups, we work with partner organisations such as Chwarae Teg, Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), Stonewall Cymru, Disability Wales and others, focusing particularly on making operational and STEM careers at Welsh Water more attractive to women. We’ve seen some success with this, for example 50% of our science-based roles are now held by women. However just 11% of our engineering and operational roles are held by women, so there’s clearly more work to be done!

More recently we have launched a women’s network which is offering a space for colleagues to network and review policies and introduce improvements as well as a reverse mentoring where women mentor our executive team on their experiences.

To mark the occasion, we spoke to four colleagues across Welsh Water about their experiences here.

Leanne Williams, head of cloud transformation

I started at Welsh Water in 2012 as an IT Project Manager and worked my way up through the ranks.

People often get a furrowed brow when I give them my job title, and no it’s nothing to do with the white fluffy things in the sky - I get asked that a lot! The cloud refers to software and services that run on the Internet, instead of locally on your computer. Think Netflix or Dropbox.

My job is to lead the team that will move all Welsh Water IT applications that are used on a daily basis by our operational and back-office teams to the cloud.

By doing this we will be reducing the cost of IT for Welsh Water. We also want to ensure our operational teams get the information they need, when they need it, which will help to support quick decision making. Especially during extreme weather events or emergencies.

The best part of my job is that I get to learn something new every day. Technology, how we use it and what we use it for changes rapidly. My role didn’t really exist 20 years ago and I’m the first person to do this role in Welsh Water – which is quite exciting!

Tammilli Wright-Ashworth

My name’s Tammilli (pronounced like ‘family’, just with a T instead of an F) and I’ve worked at Welsh Water since 2011.

I initially started as a Customer Resolution Officer and that role was, in itself, an education and baptism of fire! I learned things quickly because I had to and needed to so that I could do my new job, but I made some great friends and lasting working relationships through the business.

I am now a GIS Data Coordinator, which means that I draw in the sewer lines on the maps that are used by call handlers, crews, technicians and engineers throughout the business. These are essential when there is an emergency (such as surface water flooding, or internal floods at properties) that we, as a company, need to deal with.

My team is important within the business as we provide plans for emergency works, as well as updating new build developments on our systems, and being involved in incidents when we are called upon. We all work really well together, each of us playing to our strengths and picking up slack if somebody gets stuck doing one thing and needs any help.

Kelly Jordan, scientific project manager

I’ve been working for Welsh Water for almost six years. My role involves delivering sampling investigations and programmes and testing for multiple water quality indicators in wastewater and rivers.

Project Science sampling programmes provide data for Welsh Water to better understand how to best protect the environment for our customers. I’m a keen outdoor enthusiast so it’s important to me to feel like we’re making a difference.

Project Science would not be able to progress these programmes without the co-operation and support of multiple departments and colleagues within Welsh Water. Team work really does make the dream work!

Chloe White, conservation advisor

I joined Welsh Water through the Wastewater graduate scheme in 2018.

I am now the conservation advisor within the Waste Environmental Services team. My role covers all aspects of environmental conservation, from liaising with Natural Resources Wales when we are undertaking work in areas of special scientific interest, to advising our operations team on how best to manage invasive species. I work with consultants to survey the condition of our assets too, to see where we can better promote biodiversity.

The best part about my job is knowing the impact I have by advising others on conservation and enhancement projects is much larger than I could ever achieve on my own. Minimising our impact on biodiversity as a company is also hugely beneficial to our customers, as there are often additional benefits to undertaking this work such as flood alleviation, cleaner waterways and more wildlife.

It’s incredibly satisfying to know that in five years’ time, there will be animals and plants of all descriptions which have been able to thrive because of the changes we have made to our operating practices, and I’ve played a part in that.

If you want to find out more about International Women’s Day 2022, search the hashtag #IWD2022 on Twitter. If you’re interested in joining #TeamWelshWater, visit our careers portal here