Inspiring Women in Water: From Treatment Works to Training the Next Generation

The water industry is built on the expertise, dedication and professionalism of the people working across it every day. Yet despite significant progress in recent years, women remain underrepresented in many operational, technical and engineering roles throughout the sector.

As the industry faces increasing challenges around workforce development, succession planning and attracting new talent, creating greater visibility for women working across water has never been more important. Representation helps demonstrate the breadth of opportunities available, challenges outdated perceptions and encourages future generations to consider careers they may not have previously seen as an option.

To celebrate the women helping shape the future of the industry, Watertrain has launched its Inspiring Women in Water campaign. The campaign will shine a spotlight on women working across operational, technical, training and leadership roles, sharing their experiences and highlighting the diverse career pathways available within the sector.

Our first feature focuses on Sharon, a Learning Development Coach at Watertrain whose career spans more than two decades across water treatment, network operations, health and safety, and workforce development.

An Unexpected Introduction to the Water Industry

Like many professionals working within the sector today, Sharon did not initially set out to build a career in water.

“I was drawn to the water industry by an interesting job advert and positive feedback from connections at Thames Water, leading to a rewarding 22-year career there.”

What began as curiosity soon became a long and varied career that provided opportunities to work across multiple operational disciplines and develop a broad understanding of the industry.

Her story serves as a reminder that there is no single route into water. The sector offers a wide range of career opportunities for individuals with different interests, strengths and ambitions.

Building Experience Across the Industry

Sharon’s career journey reflects the breadth of opportunities available within the water sector.

She began her career on the front line as a Tech1 at Fobney Water Treatment Works, where she was responsible for managing filters, deliveries and calibrations. This hands-on operational experience provided a strong foundation in treatment processes and asset management.

From there, she moved into Developer Services as a Field Engineer, inspecting water regulations and wastewater infrastructure before progressing into Network Operations. As a Field Operations Manager, she led a team of fourteen across Swindon and the Cotswolds, gaining valuable leadership experience while overseeing operational activities across a large geographical area.

Her expertise and practical knowledge later led to an invitation to join the training department, where she supported colleagues across water treatment, network operations and health and safety disciplines. Her final role at Thames Water was as a Health & Safety Advisor for the Oxford R&M team, focusing on site audits and incident investigations.

Today, Sharon continues to share that experience in her role as a Learning Development Coach at Watertrain.

“I now work for Watertrain, developing and coaching apprentices embarking on their journey in the water industry, passing on industry knowledge, my personal experience and knowledge.”

Why Representation Matters

While Sharon has seen significant progress during her career, she recognises that the industry still has work to do

“Whilst I have seen a shift in attitudes and opportunities for women over time, and occasionally not always for the better, the change has been largely positive overall.”

For Sharon, representation is about ensuring people are judged by their ability and potential rather than assumptions about who does or does not belong in certain roles.

“Representation is vital because the water industry has historically been a male-dominated environment.”

She speaks openly about some of the challenges she encountered earlier in her career.

“In the past, I faced my share of challenges – from sexist comments brushed off as ‘banter’, to being assigned undesirable tasks and told I wasn’t up to the job.”

However, she believes the industry has evolved considerably.

“Society has changed; everyone deserves a fair shot at any job and to be treated with respect on site.”

As employers continue to focus on attracting diverse talent, creating inclusive working environments will remain essential to addressing future skills challenges and building resilient workforces.

Encouraging More Women Into Water

One of the key aims of the Inspiring Women in Water campaign is to encourage more women to consider careers within the sector.

Sharon’s advice is simple:

“If you are a woman considering a career in water, I would 100% tell you to go for it. Take immense pride in pursuing a path that others might not see as typical.”

At the same time, she offers a realistic perspective on career development.

“Be prepared for the hard knocks but remember tomorrow is another day.”

The message is one of resilience, confidence and self-belief – qualities that continue to serve professionals throughout their careers regardless of role or discipline.

Supporting the Next Generation Through Apprenticeships

Having worked across operational and leadership roles, Sharon is passionate about developing the industry’s future workforce.

“Apprenticeships are the future of our industry.”

As a Learning Development Coach, she sees first-hand the impact structured development can have on individuals entering or progressing within the sector.

For Sharon, one of the most rewarding moments is witnessing a learner’s growth and understanding.

“Nothing beats seeing a learner experience that ‘lightbulb’ moment when everything clicks.”

As the industry continues to address skills shortages and workforce succession challenges, apprenticeships remain one of the most effective ways of developing technical competence while transferring valuable operational knowledge from experienced professionals to the next generation.

Looking Back and Looking Forward

Reflecting on her career, Sharon takes pride in both her own achievements and the success of the learners she supports.

“Looking back on my teaching career, I am incredibly proud of achieving my Level 5 qualification and seeing my first two apprenticeship cohorts achieve a high percentage of distinctions.”

Today, she continues to play an important role in helping shape future talent through Watertrain’s apprenticeship programmes.

“I love being part of the Watertrain team, the support here is amazing, and passing on our shared knowledge to help shape the next generation of water technicians is just brilliant.”

Inspiring the Future Workforce

Stories like Sharon’s demonstrate the diverse opportunities available within the water industry and the positive impact that experienced professionals can have on developing future talent.

Through the Inspiring Women in Water campaign, Watertrain hopes to celebrate these contributions while encouraging more women to explore the rewarding careers available across operational, technical and leadership roles.

As the sector continues to evolve, developing a diverse, skilled and confident workforce will be critical to meeting future challenges. By sharing the experiences of women already making a difference, the industry can help inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps.

At Watertrain, we’re proud to support the development of the next generation of water industry professionals through apprenticeships, qualifications and industry training. Through our Inspiring Women in Water campaign, we’re celebrating the individuals helping to shape the future of the sector while encouraging more women to explore the diverse career opportunities available across the industry.

Find out more at http://www.watertrain.co.uk