Emma Stephen

Let’s take it back to the beginning, what did you do when you left school?

My career path after school wasn’t linear. I initially studied graphic design, before deciding I didn’t want to work in an office and took some time out to work as a competition groom. After which, I decided to keep horses as a hobby and headed to university to study Psychology and Sociology which I absolutely loved, however it was very hard to get any sort of job afterwards.

Before joining Stork, had you ever considered a role in engineering? 

When I was at school, you were very much directed into either college or university, we weren’t told about the opportunities available regarding joining companies and working your way up, while gaining experience and knowledge along the way.

Tell us a bit about your day-to-day role?

As a Project Engineer, my role is different every day. I could be creating work instructions for scopes offshore one minute and then raising Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and materials orders the next. 

As part of my position, I have a heavy people element too. This includes liaising with our recruitment team for manning workscopes, to supporting HR with investigations / disciplinaries. An additional part of my role includes briefing the teams heading offshore, which I enjoy as it allows me to meet the workforce and, in the past, has supported my growth of knowledge within the offshore sector. I am not very technical and feel the best way to learn is from those executing the work. These guys have many years’ experiences and are happy to share advice. 

What training, qualifications and/or experience have you gained?

I have been fortunate to be put on a variety of courses to expand my knowledge, some of which include Association for Project Management (APM), HR and Finance. However, passing my NACE Coating Inspector Level 1 was a highlight, as I was the only female on the course and had very little coatings experience at that stage of my career.

What advice would you give to girls and women considering a career in engineering?

There are so many different roles within this industry, if you are unsure what you would like to specialise in, a role such as a Project Engineer gives you exposure to many different areas. Don’t be scared to enter a job and work your way up. I started as a Technical Assistant 13 years ago and have worked towards Project Engineer, with the goal to progress to a Project Manager in the near future.