At Severn Trent Services we love to support and celebrate International Women’s Day. Severn Trent currently ranks fifth in the UK for gender equality (Equileap’s 2021 Gender Equality Global Report) and it’s incredibly important to continue championing it in our workplace. We would like to introduce you to Laura, Sarah and Kate who want to tell you about their experiences in working for us.
This year’s theme is #BreakTheBias which aims to have a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. More information can be found on the official website at – https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
Laura
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It is a fantastic way to highlight some of the amazing achievements of females in all aspects of life, and celebrating the females that surround us and impact on our day-to-day lives. For me it is not just a celebration of those that have reached the top of their chosen field, be it sport, business, politics etc. but also celebrating the little but significant acts that those women around me do on a day-to-day basis.
Have you noticed gender equality improving in the workplace during your time working for Severn Trent?
I started out as a young graduate in an overwhelming male environment, but I can honestly say I have never felt that I was ever treated differently or unfairly for being female. Having said that, the positive difference I have seen over the last 20 years is that there is a greater number of women in all areas of the business and a much greater representation at Senior Leader level.
Another positive change I have noticed is that men are more likely to be talking about childcare and their responsibilities which indicates a more balanced split for working mothers and fathers. When I first started it was unheard of for fathers to take any extended Paternity leave. Now however, although numbers are still low, I have definitely seen an increase in uptake.
What is your experience working for Severn Trent Services?
I have been here for seven years and I feel very fortunate working for Severn Trent Services. The culture and atmosphere encourage you to try new things, develop in areas you have an interest in and to push yourself out of your comfort zone. You are responsible end-to-end and are trusted and backed to make decisions every single day.
For me, no two days are the same and I love it like that. My team covers everything from Engineering to Customer Service, from Technology to Continuous Improvement and much more in between. The variety of work, skill and people in the team means we are always learning from each other and I love being part of such a diverse team.
Sarah
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It a worldwide day that celebrates women’s achievements at all levels. To me it is not just for those that have reached the top but for all the millions of women that have made a difference no matter how large or small to improve the environment for women on a day-to-day basis.
Have you noticed gender equality improving in the workplace during your time working for Severn Trent?
When I started work over 40 years ago at one of Severn Trent’s Sewerage Agents (Local Councils) it was a very male environment and there was quite a clear idea of what roles/training would be done by males as opposed to females. To do something different, in my case training on a day release course at the local college was unheard of for a woman. After lots of pestering, they finally gave in and allowed me to go (probably so they had a quiet day once a week).
However, since being in Severn Trent I have noticed gender equality improving greatly, with more women in all areas of the business and more at Senior Leader level, clearly being promoted on ability rather than gender.
What is your experience working for Severn Trent Services?
I have been in ST Services for 17½ years. It is an environment where you are encouraged to try new things, with opportunities to work out of your comfort zone. If you have an idea to improve a process or introduce new equipment, there is opportunity to do this with willing assistance from those around you.
My role allows me to interact with all areas of the business, both office and field, and this means that no two days are the same, which is great.
Your ability to do your job is more important than gender, it is a can-do organisation.
Kate
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
We all know some fantastic females who make a difference to our lives, in and outside of work and for me, it’s a chance to promote, acknowledge and be grateful for that. I also have three young daughters, so I am particularly conscious about what shapes their world, current and future.
Have you noticed gender equality improving in the workplace during your time working for Severn Trent?
I’ve worked for Severn Trent for a couple of years and what I’ve experienced is a wonderful diverse environment in that short time. From a gender perspective within Severn Trent, we ranked 3rd in the FTSE 100 for the representation of women on the executive committee, so we certainly have some great role models at a senior level. As with other employers in the industry, we still have more to do to increase female representation in operational and STEM roles and this is certainly a focus.
From a personal perspective, I have benefited from being able to work part time at Severn Trent and from the day-to-day flexibility in managing my home and work life, which makes a huge difference in balancing all my commitments.
What is your experience working for Severn Trent Services?
In my role as HR Business Partner, I work closely with the Leadership team within ST Services in addition to other business areas in the wider Severn Trent Group. Working with ST Services is challenging, fast paced and exciting in equal measure – no two days are the same and pragmatism is certainly really key in my role. There’s always something different going on and I love the creativity and drive to succeed within the ST Services team – it really is catching!
