In part 2 of our International Women’s Day celebrations, we talk to two members of our transport planning team: Associate Claire Harrison from our Reading office and Principal Consultant Kay Nicholls from our Birmingham office.
They talk children, winning awards and the importance of self–belief.
Claire Harrison
What was your career path, how did you get to where you are today?
I achieved a 2.1 in my BSc Human Geography degree from The University of Reading. Afterwards I found it very difficult to find work experience in transport planning with little knowledge of the fact that within the engineering companies is where you’ll find transport planners! I decided to go travelling to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji with my friend and spend the summer teaching English to school children in Northern Spain (Basque region). On my return, my mum had lined up a job interview for me at WSP having attended a public consultation event close to our home. Thankfully they liked me at interview and gave me my first job as a Graduate Engineer. Whilst at WSP they funded me to study for my MSc Transport degree, an intercollegiate course at Imperial College London and University College London.
Since then, I have worked for private sector clients in transport planning at PBA, PFA Consulting, Stuart Michael Associates and now, PJA. I specialise in the preparation of Transport Assessments, Transport Statements, Travel Plans and supporting projects through the local planning process. I have vast experience in the implementation of residential and site wide Travel Plans across various sites in the UK as part of a Travel Plan Co-ordinator role.
What do you think is your greatest achievement within your career to date?
In 2019, I was the first person in the country to be awarded the Modeshift STARS Bronze Accreditation for sustainable travel initiatives for a Travel Plan site in Ipswich.
What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
Not to be put off by setbacks. Keep believing in themselves that they can achieve whatever they want to. All careers are available to them if they want them.
Kay Nicholls
What was your career path, how did you get to where you are today?
I have always had a keen interest in numbers and problem solving. I really enjoyed maths throughout school and college and decided to pursue a maths degree. When embarking on a maths degree, I didn’t really know what career I would follow afterwards, but hoped it would present me with various employment opportunities in the future.
Before graduating, I started job hunting and stumbled across some transport planning vacancies. Like a lot of people not involved in the industry, I didn’t even realise that transport planning existed. When I found out more, I was fascinated about the influence I could have in shaping the way people travel.
I started my career in Development Planning involved in assessing the transport impacts of development. Whilst I have broadened my experience since, my heart is still in Development Planning. Since working with PJA, I have really enjoyed applying best practise in everything I do. We work hard to make a difference and to design places which are great to live in and work.
What do you think is your greatest achievement within your career to date?
I have been involved in a securing planning consent for a range of different schemes some of which have been extremely challenging. This spans from substantial urban extensions, town centre redevelopment schemes and very recently a new national landmark.
Although it can be tough at times to get a scheme over the line, once you succeed, it is a brilliant feeling. The diversity of schemes and unique challenges keep the job interesting.
What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
I would advise women considering their career options that gender is not a barrier to working in any industry.
When I started my first graduate role back in 2007, the gender balance was definitely tipped towards males. This never presented any issues to me but today it is brilliant to be part of a gender balanced team with some extremely talented women as well as working with some incredible female co-professionals.
I am a mum of two young children, I have taken two years out on maternity leave during my career and currently work part time. I have never felt that any of this has ever prevented me progressing in my career or taking on interesting projects.
