5 Reasons Why You Should Join the Female Engineers at CityFibre and Some Top Advice on How to do it!

Gender diversity is something that we’re incredibly passionate about at CityFibre, but it’s also an issue that STEM industries famously struggle with. Engineering is often seen as a male-dominated industry, but it really shouldn’t be. In 2019, only 25% of professionals working in engineering were women, and in the same year, only 16% of engineering and technology graduates were female.

However, as a Times Top 50 Employer for Women, we’re changing it up. We strive to create a space where all employees are equal and receive great benefits to make their lives easier. We’d love to see more women enter the industry – diversity fuels innovation and inspiration, which is what we’re all about.

We wanted to explore some of the reasons why our female engineers joined us in the first place.

Our unique company culture

“The culture of the company really caught my attention and made my decision to join easy. I’ve been supported as a new starter, and this has helped me to feel part of the CityFibre family and made me more excited to crack on with the job.” – April Bond

We’ve always said that our company feels like a big family, and it’s great to see that some of our female engineers think the same. At CityFibre, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive environment where individuals from all backgrounds can work together, share ideas and grow their careers with confidence. With 93% of our employees claiming that they would recommend working at CityFibre, it’s clear that we’ve created a culture people can not only enjoy but be excited about. Plus, one of the most rewarding things about working for CityFibre is the appreciation – your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed and your dedication is recognised.

Values that align with their own

“I looked at CityFibre’s ethos and company values and decided that would be the kind of company I would like to be involved in.” – Louise Burtenshaw

Think smart, act fast. Give it our best. Back each other. Build a legacy. These are CityFibre’s core behaviours which run through everything we do. We constantly strive to solve challenges, learn new things and improve. It’s great that our female employees resonate with these behaviours and can align them to their own priorities at work and in their personal life.

Our commitment to developing people

“One reason I decided to join CityFibre was because of the opportunities they have to offer. The Planner Academy offers training and progression like no one else in the industry as far as I’m aware.” – Emily Bryan

We constantly strive to help our employees grow in their careers and try to provide as many learning and development opportunities as possible. Academic background isn’t the most crucial aspect for us; we look for people with ambition! We aim to offer best-in-industry training and progression from running workshops and lunch and learn sessions, to initiatives like The Planner Academy and Aspiring Managers programme. We also provide mentoring opportunities and chances to learn on the job, as we know that every one of our employees learns in different ways.

The variety of roles

“I love how different each day is, the vast amount of people you meet on a daily basis, you’re always learning and get to partake in lots of exciting new things.” – Chloe McGain-Harding

At CityFibre, our team members get the opportunity to learn new things every day, explore new cities and work with different people across the business. We want our employees to be excited to come to work each day and take on new challenges. There’s no time for boredom – in this fast-growing, fast-changing environment, there are plenty of opportunities to change it up.

The sky is the limit

“For me, CityFibre was the only company I wanted to progress my telecoms career with. I wanted to be a part of building the legacy of CityFibre.” –Shannon Chamberlain

Whether it’s in their own career or in the changes we’re making to the UK’s Fibre Network, our engineers know that at CityFibre, the possibilities are endless. With many different business areas currently expanding and best in class training initiatives, we believe every employee can reach their goals.

Careers Advice for Budding Female Engineers

Sound good? We asked some of our leading female engineers to provide their advice for women who are just stepping onto the career ladder and thinking about a STEM career. By asking for top tips from real women working in the industry, we hope to inspire you to take up a career in STEM.

• Go for it – there is no limit to what you can achieve, and there are plenty of women with the same passion and vision to support you.
• You might be surprised how welcoming and kind everyone is. You’ll get a lot of support and help where you need it. Just ask!
• Be confident, be approachable, be able to express yourself, strive to be the best you can, and be willing to learn and grow.
• It’s not all about STEM skills when it comes to jobs in STEM. Instead, focus on your interpersonal skills and what you can bring to the role alongside your technical skill or mindset.
• Don’t think about the worries of a male-dominated environment. You are just as capable – take the training courses, seize the opportunities. Who says it’s just a man’s role?
• Enjoy learning and developing. CityFibre and the industry have a lot to give to the right person willing to put the time and effort in.