Insights Engineering your future
By Elaine Campbell, Engineer
27 February 2018
When I say I'm an engineer and I work in the oil and gas sector, some people are surprised and ask if there are other women who work offshore. The answer is, yes. Being in the North Sea, hundreds of miles from land, is a challenging environment to work in but that makes it incredibly rewarding. I don’t have anything else to compare it to - it’s my chosen career - but I would definitely encourage more young women to grasp the opportunities available in engineering, and specifically, in the energy industry.
What made you choose a career in engineering?
I didn’t grow up knowing what an engineer was, or wanting to be one. But my mum encouraged me to try things at least once, and continue if I enjoyed them. And my dad liked it when I helped him out on our farm when I was young. (Although I’m not sure how much help I actually was!) Looking back on it now, I can see why the engineering profession works for me, as I always enjoyed being practical and creative.
I first thought about engineering as a career after I attended a week-long, girls-only ‘Insight into engineering' course at the University of Strathclyde when I was in the fifth year of secondary school. The event showed how broad the sector is and the different career options available to you. I was so pleased to have found something I thought I would enjoy doing.
Why do you think it's important that more women work in engineering?
I went on to study Civil Engineering at the University of Strathclyde and graduated in 2012. I then joined Atkins, working in the oil and gas team in Aberdeen. I spend the majority of my time in the office but I also head offshore once or twice a year to carry out structural inspections of oil and gas platforms in the North Sea. Out there, there are more men than women working on the platforms but it’s not something I notice - everyone is focused on doing their jobs.
It’s great to have female role models with successful careers that I can aspire to. And I am happy to share my story because I think we need to encourage others to seize the opportunities and create inclusive environments.
Do you have any advice for something thinking about a STEM career?
I would say go for it! There are so many roles you can consider. Even if you don’t enjoy your first choice, you will have gained a huge amount of knowledge, skills and experience that you can transfer to other sectors. I have friends who design aeroplanes, work on construction sites, light up the trading floors in financial companies and even work in a sugar factory. They’re quite different professions but they all got there by choosing STEM careers.
Find your next career with AtkinsRéalis
If Elaine's story has inspired you and you're thinking about making your next career move, why not explore our current civil engineering jobs, electrical engineering jobs, or browse all roles to find the engineering role that is right for you.
Are you looking for more insight? Browse our engineering blogs to hear more from our engineers and get the latest industry news.
Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis
Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests
Our articles
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/26/2024
Summary
By implementing reforms in the public sector and wider society, the KSA’s Vision 2030 has greatly improved government efficiency, bringing about new growth and investment opportunities. What is Visio
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
In the ever-evolving landscape of professional endeavours, finding a workplace that feels like your safe space is a rare gem. AtkinsRealis stands as a beacon in this regard, where talents not only
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
In the ever-evolving landscape of urban drainage modelling, AtkinsRéalis stands as the leaders with large highly skilled urban drainage modellers. Our focus on serving our clients around urban dra
Preview
CanadaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/25/2024
Summary
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the skill of managing constantly changing environments has become more and more important. New construction project management software offers innovativ
Preview
AustraliaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/24/2024
Summary
In a momentous shift, SNC-Lavalin has transitioned to AtkinsRéalis, marking a new era of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in engineering consultancy. With this rebrand comes a fresh persp
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/23/2024
Summary
As Mumbai continues to evolve and expand, the demand for sustainable infrastructure and cutting-edge technology has never been more pressing. At the forefront of this transformative journey is Atk
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/22/2024
Summary
Hi there! I'm Paul, a civil engineer with over 25 years of experience specializing in networks and drainage engineering. My role at AtkinsRéalis spans managing projects, directing major initia
by
Shailaja Mantha
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/22/2024
Summary
Meet Paul, a talented civil engineer in water management whose career journey is as inspiring as impressive. Starting at AtkinsRéalis, fresh out of university in 1997, Paul quickly distinguish
by
Shailaja Mantha
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/18/2024
Summary
In the vast expanse of the Saudi Arabian landscape, you’ll find a beacon of innovation, a vision for a better, greener tomorrow. NEOM sits in the heart of the Tabuk province and isn’t just anothe
Preview
AsiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/18/2024
Summary
As a global metropolis, Hong Kong has long been a fantastic place to be a civil engineer. With world-class infrastructure all around, effective civil engineers have many opportunities to be a
Preview
AustraliaContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/18/2024
Summary
In January 2024, Srijana embarked on a new chapter in her engineering career, joining AtkinsRealis as a Chartered Structural Engineer. With six years of experience on a wide variety of projects, Sr
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
04/17/2024
Summary
I'm Dean, Regional Director at AtkinsRéalis since July 2023. I'm a Chartered Quantity Surveyor in the Projects & Programme Services team with director-level experience across various sectors,
by
Shailaja Mantha
AtkinsRéalis
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We’re devoted to growing the diversity of our people, promoting an inclusive culture, providing everyone with an equal voice because simply put, it’s the right thing to do. Click to learn more.
Find out more