To mark International Women’s Day last week, we caught up with Sarah King, Public Sector Business Development and Framework Manager at Tony Gee and Partners, to learn more about her exciting new role and hear about her career highlights as a woman in highways and engineering.
Can you tell us about your career journey? What inspired you to pursue a career in highways and engineering?
My path into the sector wasn’t conventional. In fact, I didn’t really know what wanted to do, and careers advice back then wasn’t what it is today. Over the last 20 years, I’ve been fortunate to have had incredible opportunities to develop my skillset and work with some very inspiring people who encouraged me to find opportunities, solve problems, do a good job, and be part of a team – which is what I love most.
After graduating with a degree in Environmental Science, I struggled to find a job or even work experience. Eventually, I landed a temporary maternity cover role at a global engineering company. I was massively out of my depth, but thanks to an engineer named Adrian Milton, I was offered a permanent position and a place on the graduate development programme. That role gave me hands-on experience, working on-site, and writing interpretive reports on ground conditions and contamination.
I then spent nearly 15 years at a small remediation business, leading a team responsible for work winning, delivering projects and client relationships. A particularly exciting period of my career was working on the railways in the lead up to the Olympics. I got to work on some amazing schemes, including projects of national significance – my favourites being London Borough of Haringey’s community park, The Paddock and Midland Metro Alliance’s Wednesbury to Brierly Hill extension. I also championed my team’s achievements by writing award submissions to gain recognition.
Later, I transitioned into Tier 1 contracting, where my role focused on client relationships, positioning the business with clients, and identifying and solving client’s challenges. I was also able to get involved with major national framework management – 13 to be precise! Some of my favourites were the Midlands and Eastern Highways Alliances.
Congratulations on your new role! Can you tell us more about it?
This role presents an exciting challenge – using my local authority connections to add value through the design process while developing my understanding of civil engineering from a new perspective. It’s a steep learning curve, but one that excites me.
My mission is to find and communicate the value – financially, socially and environmentally through intelligent, deliverable engineering that fulfils what the client actually needs.
What have been some of the key challenges you’ve faced as a woman in the sector, and how have you overcome them?
Probably my biggest challenge has been balancing motherhood with a demanding career. My role has always required a lot of travel, which was particularly tough when my son was younger. I’ve been very lucky to have the support of family, friends, and colleagues, as well as employers who understand these challenges and valued my input and role enough to offer flexibility. I won’t gloss over how demanding it has been, but it has been completely worth it.
Communicating has been the key – building strong relationships at work so that I was able to speak up when I needed flexibility.
What advice would you give to young women considering a career in highways and engineering?
Go for it! Working in infrastructure is incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. You will play a part in a team that leaves a legacy, and you will probably remember every project you work on forever.
Growth is scary and the industry itself may seem daunting at first. When I entered the highways sector, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of projects to learn about and the endless abbreviations used by highly skilled professionals. But I quickly realised that everyone starts somewhere. Don’t be put off, just keep asking questions. Those experts were beginners once, too.
Most importantly, find your people, find your voice, and use it. The sector needs diverse perspectives, and your contributions will make a difference.
Find Out More
To find out more about Tony Gee, visit their website here.
Explore Your Next Opportunity in Highways
Looking to take the next step in your highways career? Visit the LCRIG website to discover the latest vacancies from LCRIG and across the wider sector.
Images – Sarah King