It’s a Man’s World

Georgie Roberts, 25, from Liverpool, works as a commercial pilot in Luton. She is a First Officer on a £30 million Boeing 737, the jet engines of which generate 46,000lbs of take-off thrust. Talk about girl power!

‘When I was 14, I had a trial flying lesson, it was a treat and wasn’t really meant to go any further but I started having a few lessons every couple of months or so and I really, really enjoyed it. Then I sat all the exams and completed the flying hours required.

‘It went from there and I flew solo on my 17^th birthday. I knew from that moment that I wanted to be a commercial pilot.

‘At 19, I passed my Private Pilot’s Licence and went to flying school to complete both ground and flying exams. It’s like a university course - but it’s crammed into one year. We didn’t have any holidays at all! I don’t think most of my friends believed that I actually flew a plane. I’d say: “I want to be a pilot,” and they’d laugh, saying: “Yeah, right!”

‘While I was at flying school studying to be a pilot, my dad supported me financially, which was great. He knew I was totally dedicated to becoming a pilot - after all, I’d been sooo focused on flying from the age of 14.

‘Once I’d qualified, finding a job was a nightmare. It took two years and I had to work in a shop to survive. Mum and dad believed in me wholeheartedly at that time and really supported me. I went for interviews where I knew that they were trying to make me act like a girl.

‘People outside the industry make more of an issue of me being a girl. To be honest, age was always more of a factor - when I couldn’t get my first job, it was probably more to do with the fact that I was only 20 than the fact that I was female.

‘I landed my first job at Debonair, and really felt that I had to prove myself. I was 22, and it was a bit of a struggle at first. I really don’t think I could have done it without the emotional support of my family.

‘In the airline industry itself, I’ve never experienced any sexism. Everyone is really cool - from other pilots and air hostesses to the passengers. If people do say something, you know they’re only joking because, at the end of the day they don’t just give out Commercial Pilots’ Licences - you have to be capable of the job, and that’s all that matters.

‘Occasionally passengers will come up to the flight deck and say: “I didn’t know that girls could fly.” As if we weren’t actually capable of it! It’s funny, because women work in so many industries now and people just accept it, but they still think we are not capable of flying an aeroplane!

‘I don’t understand it. When I fly, I always hear at least a couple of women on the radio; it’s not really that uncommon at all. At EasyJet there are more than 260 pilots, of which 10 are women - that’s actually a pretty high proportion in the business.

‘So, as you can imagine, my parents are really, really proud of me. My mum just recently flew on a flight to Madrid with me. But my husband’s never been in an aeroplane that I’ve been flying. Ever! But he’s quite proud of me. Well, I certainly hope so!’

Lynsey Hiley, from Sheffield, is just 18 years old and works as a Security Operative at Sheffield University Student’s Union - keeping an eye on the carnage that is a student union bar

‘I thought that security would be a good thing to get into - and a great way to meet new people. I was working as a barmaid, but wanted to do something a bit different - and not a 9 to 5 job.

‘One night, I was in the union bar with my student mates and asked a security man if there were any jobs going. He gave me an application form and, a couple of months later, I got a phone call inviting me for an interview. I have always been a bit of a ladette, so it seemed the perfect job for me.

‘The training involved drugs awareness, self-defence and first aid. For the drugs awareness, we had a police officer come in to show us what drugs are what, and warning signs to look out for. To learn self-defence, one of the other security officers showed us arm locks and how to handle anybody who grabs you by the neck or hair. Then, after your training, you do a thing called shadowing where you work at an event or bar and go around with one of the security guys.

‘I haven’t had any real trouble so far, but I’ve only been doing it for six months. The thing is, you don’t go into a situation on your own if you think it’s all going to kick off. You have to radio through for back-up. You’re not expected to do it on your own just so you can prove a point. We all watch each other’s backs.

‘I may not have the physical strength of a man, but I can sort a situation out just as well as they can - people sometimes feel more threatened by a man.

‘We all look after each other. We see each other as brothers and sisters. It’s great. We take the piss and stuff, but it’s not spiteful - we just have a laugh. There’s no sexism or anything. It’s a good laugh - especially if you like working with men!

‘My friends think it’s great that I’m in a man’s job - I’ve got more male friends than I have female ones anyway. And my boyfriend doesn’t mind. In fact, he’s proud of me, but then, if he started acting out of order, I’d throw him out. In fact, I’d have to, wouldn’t I - that’s my job!’

Holly Bennett, 20, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, works as an explosives engineer for Control Demolitions Group and has been seen on TV blowing up everything from abandoned cement works to tower blocks - something to remember if you ever invite her over for tea!

‘When I was 18, I had a summer job in the Control Demolitions Group office. I had every intention of going back to school, but it never quite happened. CDG were preparing for a ‘blow down’ at Norfolk Park in Sheffield, and I just went along to help with the evacuation. I saw the blast and thought: “I want to do that.”

‘When I first joined, I did my shot firing exams - which is learning how to wire charges and learning about the different types of explosives. Then I went on to do a blast-designing course as well. They’re the qualifications you need, but you really have to become a full member of the Institute of Explosives Engineers. I’m too young at the moment - you have to be 23 before you can apply to join. Until then I’ll just have to make do with my student membership.

‘That’s OK, though, because right now I’m Europe’s only female demolition expert and one of only two in the world. Pretty impressive, huh?

‘Now I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. My job is so different and interesting and, even though I’m doing a “man’s job”, it certainly doesn’t make me feel any less feminine. The one thing I still hate, mind you, is the way working on demolition sites makes you dirty all the time. You wouldn’t believe the amount of face and hand cream I get through. And this job really does ruin my nails!

‘My friends and family have been pretty cool about my profession. At first my dad was really narked that I had chosen to do a “man’s job”. He thought that being on site all day with a bunch of lairy blokes and blowing stuff up was no job for a lady. If he’d had his way, I’d be a lawyer - power-dressing in sharp suits, wearing court shoes and plenty of lippy. Fortunately, he now realises that being an explosives engineer is actually quite an important job. So he’s starting to come to terms with the choice I made.

‘It’s a dangerous job and, of course, my parents are really concerned that something could go horribly wrong and I could get really hurt. Dad worries all the time, but I say I’m a professional and that I get the job done.

‘My friends, on the other hand, have always thought it was really cool. In fact, they’re pretty envious. A lot of them would like to do it themselves, but they don’t realise I work away a lot and have to work really long hours. It’s not a 9 to 5 job. It’s hard work.

‘The only downside to me being an explosives engineer is that my friends think I’m loaded and expect me to buy all the drinks! The pay’s not bad, but I don’t earn as much as the fully-qualified engineers. I haven’t had enough experience. I haven’t earned it yet.

‘As for the boys on site, they definitely treat me different to how they are with blokes, but it’s not a conscious thing. They’ve stopped the blokey banter, and they always carry the heavy equipment for me. It’s never patronising, though - we take the mick all the time. To be honest, they probably do iot as much with me as they would with anybody else - male or female.

‘Once, I foolishly said that I’d never felt as excited as when I’m working on a ‘blow down’, and that it was better than any sex I’d ever had. I was only joking, but the local press heard about it and thought it was fantastic. It’s been a kid of in-house joke at CDG ever since.

‘My boyfriend at the time wasn’t particularly chuffed, I have to say. His friends laughed at him! Needless to say, we split up soon after that. Sadly, I don’t go for the rugged builder types, so being on site doesn’t provide me with an endless source of totty. Saying that, my new boyfriend also works in demolitions - but he owns the company! Don’t even suggest the idea of us working together, though - that would be far too close for comfort!’