Salute inspiring Hampshire pair on International Women’s Day
Breaking gender bias: Environment Agency has more diverse workforce bringing greater benefit to the environment - women increasingly taking up manual work
Environment Agency officers Maggie Byas and Vicky Bowen clear rubble from a site
Tomorrow, Wednesday 8 March, is International Women’s Day. It’s an opportunity for the Environment Agency to highlight all the great work that women do, especially in reducing flooding to local communities.
Vicky Bowen and Maggie Byas are the only women in the East Hampshire field team, a team that is on-the-ground doing manual work. Vicky and Maggie both love their hands-on jobs and believe that, as women, they bring many additional skills and benefits to the team.
Teamwork! Maggie and Vicky are the only women in the Environment Agency team covering east Hampshire.
Vicky said:
My job is mostly outside doing practical work. I help reduce flooding by clearing debris from rivers, removing fallen trees and maintaining mechanical structures.
Members of the public often come and talk to me about what I’m doing, especially other women. I think they find it easier to approach me than my male colleagues.
I’m proud to be a woman doing a physically-demanding job and making a difference to the environment.
Vicky and Maggie both made intentional career changes into these jobs within the last few years. They wanted to be outside doing something that benefits people and the environment. Previously, Maggie worked in a supermarket and Vicky for a taxi company.
Maggie said:
I’ve already learnt so much doing this role. Now I can lay a new hedge, and confidently use a chainsaw. I’ve also brought additional skills to the team such as good communication and organisation.
I love being out and about, seeing the seasons change and working with nature. I would encourage more women to think about a role like this. It’s really rewarding and great fun at the same time.
Alongside their day jobs, Vicky and Maggie are doing water environment worker level 3 apprenticeship. This gives them new qualifications, training and skills including flood management and habitat management.
The Environment Agency encourage members of the public to report blocked rivers or damaged riverbanks by calling the incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
More information about International Women’s Day is available from International Women’s Day 2023 (internationalwomensday.com)
Find out more about the work of the East Hampshire field team by following @JohnOFlynnEA.
Jobs at the Environment Agency can be found at https://environmentagencycareers.co.uk/?sType=ea_landingpage
The Environment Agency’s people strategy aspires to place equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of all it does, making it part of the DNA. It is committed to being a genuinely-inclusive organisation, which reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.
More information about the water environment worker level 3 apprenticeship is on the Bridgwater and Taunton College website: www.btc.ac.uk
Channel maintenance includes a range of activities to maintain conveyance such as dredging, weed cutting and removing blockages.
Annual investment in river maintenance varies year-on-year. The Environment Agency allocates funding according to risk.
Over each of the past 3 years, the Environment Agency have spent between £45million and £55million per year on channel maintenance.
The Environment Agency – the leading organisation for protecting and improving the environment in England – has a 5-year plan for achieving a cleaner, greener and healthier future. Read more about how we are becoming climate resilient, improving the health of air, land and water for people and nature, and supporting sustainable green growth here.