PEOPLE & CULTURE: Meet McGowan #1- Ashley McCurry (Grad Apprentice)

23 June 2021

Since McGowan Environmental Engineering was created in 2009, the company has continued to grow organically and is fully committed to nurturing, training and developing its workforce. To kick-off our ‘Meet McGowan’ series, and in recognition of International Women In Engineering Day on 23 June 2021, we would like to introduce Graduate Apprentice, Ashley McCurry.

Ashley joined McGowan Environmental Engineering in April 2017 as a Trainee Project Manager and quickly became involved in different elements of a project lifecycle, from assisting with procurement processes and working within a site team, to providing commercial and contractual support.

“In 2019 I was offered the opportunity to undertake a Graduate Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) in Construction and the Build Environment at Robert Gordons University (RGU) and am currently in my third year. The Graduate Apprenticeship is the perfect platform to further my development as it allows me to work and gain a qualification at the same time, providing vital theoretical knowledge to compliment my practical in-house training.”

Now in its eighth year, International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is the world’s biggest initiative celebrating the achievements of women in engineering and allied professions. Latest figures show that just under 13% of the engineering workforce is female and INWED plays an important role in encouraging more girls and women to consider engineering careers.

“The construction and engineering industries are so vast that it’s often difficult to know where to start but it does mean there are many different career paths available. My first experience was working as a Document Controller on the A9-dualling before I joined McGowan while studying for an HNC in Quantity Surveying at Inverness College UHI. I am also a STEM Ambassador volunteer and encourage young girls and boys to consider the wide variety of jobs that are available to them.”

Like many of the McGowan Environmental Engineering team, Ashley was born and raised in the Highlands and has recently welcomed a new addition to her family with the arrival of baby Theo!

“I feel fortunate to live and work within a National Park and I have always loved the outdoors, spending any free time that I have exploring the surrounding areas. Having recently become a mother I am more conscious than ever of the impact we have on the planet and am proud of the company’s commitment to delivering projects in an environmentally respectful and responsible way. I’ve been on maternity leave since November 2020 and am looking forward to getting back to work later this year and completing my degree at RGU in 2022.”

Everyone at McGowan Environmental Engineering is looking forward to Ashley’s return and getting her actively involved in some of our new and exciting projects. While we will continue to invest in young people and offer modern apprenticeships, we also offer opportunities for promotion and career development throughout the company.