Leading recruitment specialist Acorn is urging women to bid for work in heavy industry.
Acorn’s clients from heavy industry are eager to deliver the message that women and men are equally considered for the full variety of roles.
Sue Winfield, Acorn’s head of marketing, said: “To us it’s wrong that, according to our latest statistics, fewer than 2,000 women hold one of the UK’s 300,000 HGV licences – and that only around one out of ten people working in construction are women.
“Women may not have considered roles such as plant operators, industrial labourers and HGV drivers.. Our employer clients welcome applications from women who can work in a heavy industrial environment, are and enjoy working as part of a team.
“Benefits can include flexible working hours, competitive salaries, on-going work and good training opportunities. We say quite simply: Go for it!”
She said that great examples of women in heavy industry included Abby Griffiths and Cerys Nicklin, drivers with Harsco Metals and Minerals based at the giant Tata steelworks in Port Talbot, South Wales.
Abby, aged 28, joined Harsco in November 2012; Cerys, 24, of Merthyr, joined the following month. Working in Coke and Iron, they drive tractors with water bowsers around the huge works, suppressing industrial dust and undertaking other heavy duty cleaning functions.
Abby, of Neath, said: “Driving and operating the machinery we do is a new and rewarding experience; I’m really pleased to have been offered the chance to do it.”
Cerys, of Merthyr, said: “The work is dirty and physical, and I love it. Women should think about jobs like these in industry – the right person with the right attitude will do a good job.”
Harsco Port Talbot general manager Nick Tagg said: “Abby and Cerys are wonderful examples of women working within a heavy industry environment..They play pivotal roles in our team and can be an inspiration to women who perhaps haven’t thought of following such a route to work.”
Abby and Cerys will be among the Harsco personnel on hand to answer questions from women visitors when the company hosts an employment open day at its Tata Steel UK Port Talbot base this Friday.
The informal event will include a tour of the Tata plant and the opportunity to talk to men and women who work for Harsco. For details or to register for the event phone 01633 760 152 or email [email protected].
International Women’s Day celebrates the abilities of women all around the Globe. Website – www.internationalwomensday.com.