Meet Georgia Harper!
In today's post, we present the wonderful Georgia Harper! Georgia is a trainee site engineer at Caddick Construction in England. Read more about her story below!
Pronouns: She/her/hers
From: England
What motivated you to be a person in that field?
The lack of representation of women within civil/construction has always bothered me. People were telling me I'd never last on a building site (that being manly men!) and wanting to prove every single one of them wrong and have a career in something iv always been fascinated with.
What have been the main challenges you have encountered throughout your career, And what did you learn from them?
I think the main challenge is not having any women you have direct contact with daily. The guys I work with are all amazing, and I couldn’t ask for better people to learn from; however, there are specific issues only women face and therefore can understand more than men can.
When has been a time that you felt empowered?
Getting my first job on a construction site! It's gratifying when people ask for information/guidance, and you can provide that. I felt like I'd achieved a massive goal just by securing a job in an industry where only 1% of people who work on-site are female in my country.
Why are you a Girl in Civil?
I'm a girl in civil because I'm fascinated by the built environment! I've always wanted to be involved in the making and creating new spaces and improving the spaces that already exist! Knowing that what iv been involved with is going to benefit other people is hugely rewarding.
What advice would you share with others?
Don't be afraid of making mistakes and asking questions, especially when you are first starting your career. For me making a mistake was something I was so scared of doing as I was expecting people to laugh/make comments about the mistake being due to my gender. This couldn't be further from the truth; you learn so much from making mistakes, and without making them, you never learn. Additionally, I think taking opportunities whenever possible and speaking up for what you want. While still at the beginning of my construction education, I undertook multiple unpaid placements to gain knowledge and understanding of the industry. I didn't have to do this, but I think it can really help demonstrate your passion for the industry.
