To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re featuring the great contributions the Women of Hounslow are making to our borough.
Published: Thursday, 7th March 2024
Meet Virtue - one of our Graduate Civil Engineers, who is currently working on the Cycleway 9 - Watermans Park to Alexandra Road project.
A key member of the onsite team, Virtue is working with to deliver this exciting project infrastructure, that will play a vital role in ensuring people travelling in Hounslow can reach their destination in a sustainable and safe way.
Find out more about the Cycleway 9 project.
We sat down and spoke to Virtue about her role, and how she thinks we can encourage more women into engineering:
What made you get into engineering?
‘’My love for all things science especially physics! I loved Product Design at school and that led me wanting to study Engineering. My secondary physics teacher introduced me to the world of Civil Engineering and from there I applied to study it at university.’’
What do you like about the Cycleway 9 project?
‘’What I truly love about this role is that it allows me to contribute to the community by providing the general public with safe and accessible roads, complete with well-designed crossing points. We aim to facilitate better engagement and interaction among all road users, including both vehicle users and pedestrians. By creating dedicated cycle lanes, we not only promote a healthier lifestyle but also contribute to a cleaner environment. Furthermore, we are enhancing the overall network by seamlessly connecting existing lanes to the new cycle path.’’
What’s a really key or interesting part of the work you’ve learnt so far?
‘’A lot of people are involved in the delivery of a project and also the amount of utilities underground in London, like a maze aha.’’
What do you want to get more involved with in the future?
‘’In the future, I aspire to lead more projects and, ideally, work on some exciting bridge projects. My genuine interest lies in bridges, and I’m eager to contribute my expertise and learn and grow more in the industry.’’
How do you think we can encourage more women into steam and engineering?
‘’I believe it is crucial to persistently celebrate the remarkable achievements of women in the industry and avoid complacency. Currently, women constitute only 16.5% of the engineering workforce, as reported by Engineer UK. This statistic underscores the need for continued efforts. As an ICE STEM Ambassador and a part-time YouTuber, I am dedicated to documenting my experiences as a woman in the industry. My goal is to inspire and encourage young girls and students to pursue careers in engineering.’’
