Emily Burridge

"The personality types fit me to a T! I love to coach everyone around me to help them realise their own potential, I see it as a must when managing a team as people have to be independent and confident enough to come up with ideas that can change the way we work for the better it's important for them to be supported in all that they do. Being an influencer is a huge part of what I try to be, I love to share my stories and experiences in the hope that the stereotypes about working in a male dominated industry will be overcome.I try to inspire people in work to pass on the message themselves and for people outside the business to consider the quarrying industry as a career path for them. "

"I am technical production manager for concrete in the West Midlands, this means that I look after 24 little factories that make and deliver concrete to working construction sites. My job is to make sure the concrete is fit for purpose and that our customers are happy with it, as part of this I create recipes in a laboratory and also spend time outside at our production plants and customer sites. However, I also spend some time managing other people and looking at patterns in data on my laptop. I have the added bonus of a company car and a very competitive starting salary of around £30,000. In addition to my role as a technical production manager I am also a STEM ambassador meaning I visit schools to encourage children to consider STEM subjects and jobs. In my time with the company I have visited many schools to give career advice, support to events run by the engineering development trust, and raising awareness of engineering and apprenticeship opportunities for women at career fairs. I am constantly striving to raise the profile of women in the construction sector and have featured in many articles on platforms such as “Women In Construction”, “Agg-Net”, “BBC”, “Radio One”, “Construction UK”, “Aggregate Business Europe” and “The Concrete Society”. "

"I never had a clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life and took a variation of A-level options which didn't limit me to a particular path. I didn't want to go to university so I looked at apprenticeships as I liked the idea of learning and earning while working.I joined Hanson UK in September 2015 and was the first female apprentice to complete the Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) programme. I have gained invaluable experience fromoter people in the industry and from a Foundation degree in mineral extractives technology at the University of Derby.As an apprentice I would travel around the South of the country and into Wales to visit big projects like Hinkley Point, I have also worked to make up recipies for concrete used in hospitals, bridges, high rise office blocks and many more which I now pass on the motorway almost everyday. I like to think that I helped to make those structures. I also had the opportunity to visit Whatley in Somerset, which is one of the the largest limestone quarries in Europe, while I was there I flew a drone, drove a train and saw a blast (where the rockface gets blown up with a controlled explosion), all of which were amazing experiences that I won't ever forget. I find it incredible that people do those things as part of their job every day. My journey and the help I've had along the way led me to become a technical production manager of 24 concrete plants in the West Midlands, a job which I started at the age of 22 which provided me with a company car and a competative starting wage.Throughout the LEAD programme I would meet the apprentices and discuss plans for the next intake. We created social media plans to advertise the opportunity as well as school visits and the implementation of LEAD Ambassador roles which are used to represent the apprentices in specific areas. I also act as mentor for other apprentices and am involved heavily in training new starters."

"I have a Jack Russell that I love to play with and take out on walks but I also like to spend time inside reading and sewing which people wouldn't think goes together with the type of job I do. I live by myself 3 hours away from family but the job I do allows me to travel frequently so I never feel alone. I love being creative outside of work which lends itself well to the type of problem solving I do if there is a problem with concrete or a plant. "

"I spend about 50% of my time in front of a computer responding to emails, looking at material sources, analysing performance data for both materials produced and the staff that I manage. The other 50% of my time is spent at construction sites all across the Midlands, I have spent time at all sort of projects from nuclear plants, bridges, railways, skyscrapers and houses. Hanson also allow charity days where I have helped DIY SOS and the bumblebee trust in the past years. Aside from the day to day, I have been given many opportunities to attend training courses such as mental health first aid, fire safety and more technical courses throughout the year, I have even created 3 of my own courses which I taught to our UK technical team. My overall aim in my role is to keep my staff safe, happy and motivated, to advise and help those around me, including customers and also to ensure all concrete produced from the 23 plants I cover is of the best quality. "

"I got to my role by undertaking a Higher Apprenticeship with Hanson UK straight out of college with support from the University of Derby where I achieved a distinction in a Foundation Degree- Mineral Extractives Technology University of Derby. I have since started an Honours degree at the University of Derby in Minerals Management.A Levels:A* - Graphic Design B - ICTC - Physics"