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By Louise Haining, Managing Director, at Connect Plus Services.

International Women’s Day is an important date in the calendar dedicated to celebrating achievements of women, while calling for accelerated gender equality. It offers a platform for reflection, community engagement, and action toward progress. This year’s theme is #AccelerateAction; which emphasises the need for greater urgency in overcoming the systematic barriers and biases that women face. 

A figure that struck me was that; in the UK, women make up approximately 15.7% of the engineering workforce, a figure that has declined since 2022.  

As we use this occasion to focus on making a positive change, I reflect on my own career of 34 years, to date, in the industry. I began as a graduate in Civil Engineering, beginning a career path that I felt sure would suit my love of problem solving and drive to build meaningful solutions. I was eager to be hands on and be on-site actively involved in the entire engineering process. I am passionate about encouraging more women to consider a career in engineering, as such, I thought it might be helpful to share a little about my journey. 

I joined a graduate programme, which was a fantastic way to start, and it gave me the opportunity to get practical experience while continuing to learn. It also laid the foundation to my path in becoming a chartered engineer. Becoming chartered was a significant milestone for me, it taught me so much about structure, responsibility and what was truly important in engineering, beyond the technical skills. It was about understanding the impact of our work, learning how to balance safety, efficiency, and innovation, and recognising the value of collaboration with other professionals. 

As I continued in my work, I took a different opportunity which allowed time to balance family with my career. I began working in coastal defence, which gave me a chance to apply my knowledge in a different context and to become particularly strategic in thinking. I continued to bring this mindset to my next roles in a return to Highways, taking every opportunity to develop through my roles including Head of Project Engineering, Asset and Project Delivery Director, Strategic Delivery Director and most recently, Managing Director. 

Whether it’s working with clients or contractors or switching between different roles, I’ve always seen it as an opportunity to build more knowledge and experience. I’ve found that switching perspectives, understanding what both sides go through, and developing emotional intelligence is invaluable in leadership. 

I’ve always been passionate about engineering and finding solutions. I enjoy diving into the details of a project, whether it’s optimising designs or ensuring the best possible outcomes. But it’s not just about the technical side for me, I care deeply about creating a positive workplace culture and fostering people development. It’s important to build an environment where all people feel supported and valued, and putting those systems in place is essential - including championing women and challenging the barriers they often face in an especially male dominated industry. I particularly enjoy sponsoring and being part of the ‘Women in Construction’ events at CPS. These provide a learning and network opportunity, encouraging open conversations about the challenges that being a member of a site-based, shift working and under-represented group can bring.   

As technology continues to evolve, I’m particularly excited about digital transformation and the role of knowledge management in making decision-making more efficient. The ease of information exchange is vital in unlocking new opportunities, and I’m proud to be part of an industry that is moving forward in such dynamic ways. 

Looking back, I’ve learned so much along the way. It hasn’t been easy, but the work has been incredibly rewarding.  

My key lessons, and advice I would share is to remain authentic. As a leader, I’ve stayed true to my style: I’m creative, I value emotional intelligence, and I’m deeply committed to diversity and inclusion. I’ve learned how to take feedback, even when it doesn’t feel great in the moment. Feedback is essential to growth. 

Another one for me is networking. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, but making the time to connect with others and step back to think about who else can help you has opened countless doors. It’s a big part of why I am where I am today. 

I’m grateful for the experiences that have brought me here, and I look forward to the opportunities ahead. Civil engineering is about building a better future, and that’s something I’m excited to continue being a part of and encouraging others. 

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Notes to Editors

About Connect Plus and Connect Plus Services

• Over 10 years ago, Highways England awarded Connect Plus the contract to operate and manage the M25 and its key arterial link roads.
• Connect Plus is a consortium that includes Edge Orbital Holdings Ltd, Balfour Beatty and Egis Road Operation UK - a unique partnership with a collective strength in highways maintenance and management.
• Connect Plus Services (CPS), is Connect Plus’ specialist and strategic supply chain partner responsible for operations and maintenance, bringing together the collective strength and expertise of its parent companies, Balfour Beatty, Atkins and Egis Road Operation UK.
• With a workforce of around 600 people, based at seven locations around the network, CPS carries out routine maintenance, and whole-life management of thousands of M25 assets. CPS manages the operation of the network 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including a severe weather season maintenance programme.
• Over the past 10 years, collectively we’ve delivered over £1.4bn worth of road improvements and junction enhancements, and we’re continually exploring new and innovative ways to deliver safer, more reliable journeys for our customers. Together, we’re passionate about delivering the long-term needs of the M25 and improving the driving experience for all our customers.
• For further information please visit https://www.connectplusm25.co.uk/ or follow us at https://twitter.com/cpservices_m25