International Women's Day 2023

Today we celebrate International Women’s Day. A global day celebrating women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. We reached out to some of our female employees and asked for their insight on what it’s like working in their field and a male-dominated industry. Our group has women working across the whole business, from office-based roles to working offshore as Rope Access Technicians and ROV Technicians.

Receiving this feedback demonstrated what amazing and strong female employees we have and how Vertech Group can encourage more women to work in our industry. Read on to read what our female employees had to say –

Two individuals are smiling at the camera, seated behind a red and black Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) on a yellow lift. They are in a warehouse with storage racks and equipment in the background. The large cylindrical object behind them features logos, including "GEO OCEANS" and "VERTTECH GROUP".
  • Why is it important to celebrate International Women’s Day?:

“I think it’s important to recognise International Women’s Day to celebrate how far women have come. We still have a long way to go worldwide to ensure that women have the same equality as men, but we are moving in the right direction. My ancestors fought for women’s rights; I believe we must continue that fight.”

“To celebrate women’s achievements.”

“It’s a great opportunity to recognise the hardworking ladies out there.”

  • Throughout your career, have there been any barriers that you’ve had to face?:

“Before entering this line of work, I questioned my physical and mental capabilities. It hasn’t been easy but keeping fit and healthy has helped a lot.”

“Being perceived as “too nice”. There have been times when I was hesitant to assert myself or speak up because I didn’t want to come across as too aggressive or pushy.”

  • What is the most important advice you’ve been given?:

“The only one who can tell you ‘You can’t win’ is you and you don’t have to listen.”

“Those who never make mistakes have never tried anything new.”

“Fight for what you deserve in life because success and fulfilment don’t always come easily.”

An individual in orange safety coveralls and a white helmet stands smiling on a shipyard platform beside a large metallic structure with visible writing and diagrams. In the background is a view of industrial, maritime construction with multiple cranes, a docked ship, and a large offshore platform under maintenance. Safety barriers and construction materials are scattered throughout the site.

We also spoke to Annamaria Greenwood, a Materials, Corrosion and Inspection Engineer for The Vertech Group. Her experiences have taken her worldwide, and she encountered many hurdles along the way. Read Annamaria’s interview below:

1) Name: Annamaria Greenwood

2) Occupation: Materials, Corrosion and Inspection Engineer

3) Why is it important to celebrate International Women’s Day?:

To celebrate all the people, women and men, who have worked together and spent their time and energy building a world where men and women are equal.  Equal at work, at home and in the eyes of the law and government.  But I believe it is important to remember that equality does not mean we are the same.  We are not.  We think differently, behave differently, and what is essential to us differs.  It is crucial that in the strive for equality, women don’t fall into the trap of sameness and ‘become’ men. 

4) Throughout your career, have there been any barriers that you’ve had to face?:

Many, not having a toilet to go to on the site and having to go to the nearest pub being one of them!  Having my dinner taken away from me before I had eaten it by a waiter in the hotel where we were staying after working on some jetties with a colleague, he thought I was the mistress!  Another funny episode was that I was travelling to work with some equipment, and since the ‘Troubles’ were on in Belfast, there was a man at the airport to question passengers.  He would not believe that I was an engineer nor that the equipment was mine.  I think I had to get him to call my Company to corroborate!

When I first started working, I rarely met other women engineers.  I worked on the building of the Lagna Weir in Belfast; there were over 1000 people on-site.  There were two women engineers on-site, myself and a Civil Engineer, Shona, who was the same age as me.  This could be both a positive and a negative.   Positive in that most people knew you and, for the most part, wanted to help you. A negative is that you did have to be very self-sufficient and believe in yourself, but this was good for you.

I don’t think that I felt the barriers so much, sometimes people were a little dubious when they first met you, but once you proved yourself, you never had to do it again.  I worked in all sorts of environments, on rigs, FPSO’s, construction sites in Northern Ireland and South Korea, power stations in Egypt, chasing intelligent pigs around New Zealand, Abseiling inspection in New Zealand and inspecting jetties/motorways in UK and Jersey.  The offices were the more challenging places where you tended to meet with more issues.

In fact, I think there seem to be more barriers in some ways now.  As women, we sometimes don’t tend to support each other as much as we should.  It is hard to be a woman in any field, as we not only work, but we care for the people around us at work and often have families that we support – our partners, children and also extended family, siblings, grandparents, and friends.  We need to support opposed to fighting against each other.

5) What is the most important advice you’ve been given?:

Always seek to step out of my comfort zone, however much it scares me. 

Only then do you learn about yourself and everything around you?  When you become comfortable, I think, you become blinkered and look inwards rather than at yourself.  I believe life is about more than just ourselves; we can influence and change for the better.

International Women’s Day allows us to accelerate gender equality; Vertech Group will continue to ensure that efforts are made onshore and offshore to provide female employees with a workplace that encourages women’s empowerment and leadership opportunities.

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An individual in orange safety coveralls and a white helmet stands smiling on a shipyard platform beside a large metallic structure with visible writing and diagrams. In the background is a view of industrial, maritime construction with multiple cranes, a docked ship, and a large offshore platform under maintenance. Safety barriers and construction materials are scattered throughout the site.
A worker wearing high-visibility orange coveralls and a white safety helmet inspects equipment on an industrial site. The worker wears safety glasses, ear protection, and green gloves and is focused on adjusting or examining a part of the machinery with their gloved hands. The background is occupied by industrial pipework and valves, suggesting a setting within a facility such as a plant or refinery. The worker's attention to detail underscores the importance of safety and precision in such an environment.
Two technicians in high-visibility orange workwear are operating sophisticated electronic equipment in an industrial environment. One technician is seated in front of multiple monitors displaying underwater ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) operations, while the other, standing, examines data or controls on another screen. Their workstation is cluttered with various operational manuals, supplies, and personal items, indicating a busy and dynamic work setting. The focus and teamwork between the individuals suggest a critical monitoring or controlling task.
Two professionals in high-visibility orange overalls with reflective stripes are seated inside a control room with white walls. The individual on the left appears to be operating a joystick, while the person on the right, who seems to be in mid-conversation, looks on. They are surrounded by work-related paraphernalia, including a monitor displaying a graph with multiple coloured lines, suggesting some form of data monitoring or analysis. Personal items such as a stainless steel bottle and a takeaway coffee cup, along with a laptop and operational equipment, are also visible on the desk, adding to the candid and occupied atmosphere of the scene.
Workers in orange safety gear perform maintenance on an offshore rig's structure. They are attached to a vertical buoyancy aid amidst rusty pipes and beams. The sea below is a deep blue.
Two workers in orange safety suits and white helmets are suspended on ropes beside an offshore platform's massive, rusted cylindrical legs. They are equipped with safety harnesses and gear, with the ocean visible below.
Two individuals are smiling at the camera, seated behind a red and black Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) on a yellow lift. They are in a warehouse with storage racks and equipment in the background. The large cylindrical object behind them features logos, including "GEO OCEANS" and "VERTTECH GROUP".
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An individual in orange safety coveralls and a white helmet stands smiling on a shipyard platform beside a large metallic structure with visible writing and diagrams. In the background is a view of industrial, maritime construction with multiple cranes, a docked ship, and a large offshore platform under maintenance. Safety barriers and construction materials are scattered throughout the site.loading=
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A worker wearing high-visibility orange coveralls and a white safety helmet inspects equipment on an industrial site. The worker wears safety glasses, ear protection, and green gloves and is focused on adjusting or examining a part of the machinery with their gloved hands. The background is occupied by industrial pipework and valves, suggesting a setting within a facility such as a plant or refinery. The worker's attention to detail underscores the importance of safety and precision in such an environment.loading=
Two technicians in high-visibility orange workwear are operating sophisticated electronic equipment in an industrial environment. One technician is seated in front of multiple monitors displaying underwater ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) operations, while the other, standing, examines data or controls on another screen. Their workstation is cluttered with various operational manuals, supplies, and personal items, indicating a busy and dynamic work setting. The focus and teamwork between the individuals suggest a critical monitoring or controlling task.loading=
Two professionals in high-visibility orange overalls with reflective stripes are seated inside a control room with white walls. The individual on the left appears to be operating a joystick, while the person on the right, who seems to be in mid-conversation, looks on. They are surrounded by work-related paraphernalia, including a monitor displaying a graph with multiple coloured lines, suggesting some form of data monitoring or analysis. Personal items such as a stainless steel bottle and a takeaway coffee cup, along with a laptop and operational equipment, are also visible on the desk, adding to the candid and occupied atmosphere of the scene.loading=
Workers in orange safety gear perform maintenance on an offshore rig's structure. They are attached to a vertical buoyancy aid amidst rusty pipes and beams. The sea below is a deep blue.loading=
Two workers in orange safety suits and white helmets are suspended on ropes beside an offshore platform's massive, rusted cylindrical legs. They are equipped with safety harnesses and gear, with the ocean visible below.loading=
Two individuals are smiling at the camera, seated behind a red and black Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) on a yellow lift. They are in a warehouse with storage racks and equipment in the background. The large cylindrical object behind them features logos, including "GEO OCEANS" and "VERTTECH GROUP".loading=
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