32-year-old Aoife Blight from Barry got in touch with Tarmac Aberthaw’s Environmental Co-ordinator, Kara Bennett, to explore what’s needed for a career in the environment sector. Seeking a career switch after taking a two and half year career break to look after her baby, here she explains her motivations and the outcome of her contact with the Aberthaw site.
“I’ve been on a career break for 2.5 years and during that time I’ve had a baby. I had previously spent eight years working in international exploration geology. I am keen to get back to the world of work and to find a new direction for my career.
I’ve worked in copper and gold exploration in Europe and West Africa, but since having my son I’ve been looking for something a little more local. Also, during my time off, I’ve reflected and realised that I really care about the environment, motivating me to look for a role that uses my technical knowledge and allows me to contribute to protecting our environment.
To research this career move I reached out to people to find out about what they do, why they do it and how they started. I live in Barry so where better to start than at Aberthaw?
I contacted Kara, environmental coordinator, and Nicola Bartholomey, Quarry Manager, to see if they fancied a chat; I was thinking maybe a skype call, or a meet up over a coffee, but they were kind enough to invite me for a site tour.
I visited the site earlier this month and I got to meet Kara and Nicola for a great tour of the plant and quarry. After a safety induction, we donned our PPE and set off. Kara and Nicola were incredibly helpful and insightful, explaining how the plant works, what their work involves on a daily basis and how they got into their careers. Through hard work and determination, they’ve both reached high level positions in their organisation; it was inspiring walking around the site with these two wonder women.
We then hopped in the pick-up and drove to the quarry, with a quick stop on the way to visit the beehives (a fab community engagement project they run in collaboration with local beekeepers where honey is harvested, and funds donated to local charities). The assistant quarry manager, Ben, was also on hand to answer all my technical questions before we drove through the tunnel into the quarry itself. I felt very much at home surrounded by all those rocks, particularly as I am from Ireland, a country of limestone! It was interesting to learn about the sustainable mining practices being used at Aberthaw and what the future holds for the site.
I came away from my day at Aberthaw inspired and focussed. It was refreshing to see women in these types of leadership roles. It is evident that Tarmac is working hard to encourage more women into the industry and then working with them to provide support so that that they can fulfil their career potential. Having role-models like Nicola and Kara is fantastic and they’ve certainly inspired me in the short amount of time I was with them.
My visit with Kara and Nicola has encouraged me to apply for these types of roles, knowing that I have the knowledge and passion to further my career in one of these directions.
Whether my next step is into environmental or quarry management is yet to be seen, but I’m glad to know that there is space for women in these areas. I’m looking forward to finding my space.
Thanks again to Kara, Nicola, and everyone who welcomed me to site that day.