In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day #BreakTheBias we would like to highlight an incredible achievement by a member of the Bouygues Energies & Services team, Noelia Garcia Novas. A process engineer who recently received her chartership in chemical engineering, overcoming the obvious challenges of covid and working in what once was a male-dominated environment. A chartership that helps show her capabilities as an engineer. 

“The chartership demonstrates chemical engineering professional competence and commitment through a widely recognised, externally validated and peer reviewed scheme, said Noelia, Senior Process Engineer at Bouygues Energies & Services 

She has over 8 years of experience as a process engineer, gaining her chartership allows her to advance her career further and be recognised by her peers and clients for her specialist skills. However, acquiring further qualifications in normal circumstances is difficult, it’s even harder when you’re working full-time and managing multi-million-pound projects. Noelia has been responsible for a number of projects from design through to completion, most recently in Scotland with a global pharmaceutical company. She found having a supportive team and manager made getting her chartership a lot easier, she explains: 

“The company was very supportive and paid for my chartership application fee. My manager Adeel Aslam and my Bouygues Energies & Services colleagues acted as verifiers to my application, confirming that it represented a true account of my engineering experience.  

Bouygues Energies & Services have a number of schemes to help their team develop further and also have a supportive network Welink for women to help them advance their career. Welink is a place of exchange, sharing and solidarity for the women of Bouygues Construction. The network promotes the importance of wellbeing, diversity and inclusion for all, whilst facilitating cultural change and process improvements where appropriate.  

Welink aims to promote development and opportunity for women, prevent isolation and increase the visibility of Construction & Engineering roles within the education system. 

Now, Noelia is recognised and entered on the register of Chartered Members, allowing her to use the industry recognised designatory letter MIChemE. In return gaining the respect of her peers and clients.  

“I have been issued a Chartered Member certificate along with a card that is recognition of my expertise. The chartership is a internationally recognised qualification that can help improve my career prospects and allow me to access life-long learning.” added Noelia 

She advises anyone looking to take their chartership to  

“get familiar with the requirements as soon as possible in your career and actively work towards gathering and recording the necessary practical professional experience. The completion of a fully accredited degree will make the application process easier.” 

I guess this is a true example of if you put your mind to it, anything is possible. Congratulations on becoming Chartered Noelia!