Background and industry experience
Leah joined MEC in March 2025 as part of the Administration team, having had no previous experience within the industry. In August 2025, she moved into the Utilities team, where she has been learning and developing her knowledge from the ground up. Although she did not follow a traditional route into the industry through a degree or previous experience, she has enjoyed taking on new challenges and building my skills in a completely new field.
Outside of work, Leah enjoys reading, horse riding and spending time with family and friends.
About me
What is your favourite holiday destination?
Italy
What is your favourite film?
War of the Worlds.
What is your favourite thing to do at the weekend?
Spending quality time with my boyfriend and dog, attending concerts or socialising with friends
What is your favourite sport to follow?
I have always enjoyed horse riding as both a hobby and favourite sport.
If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Carbonara.
Women in Engineering
Tell us a little about your role.
I work within the Utilities team, supporting the delivery of utility-related services across a variety of development projects. My role involves researching and identifying existing utility infrastructure, assisting with utility enquiries, obtaining information from utility providers and supporting the preparation of reports and plans for clients. I also help coordinate utility applications and liaise with utility companies, clients and colleagues to ensure projects progress smoothly. One of the things I enjoy most about my role is that no two projects are the same. Every development presents different challenges, which means I am constantly learning and expanding my understanding of the utilities sector.
What first inspired you to do engineering?
Unlike many people in the industry, engineering wasn’t something I originally planned to go into. I joined the company in an administrative role and became interested in learning more about the work being carried out around me. When the opportunity arose to move into the Utilities team, I decided to challenge myself and try something completely new. Since then, I’ve enjoyed learning about an industry I knew very little about before.
How do you feel about being a woman in your field of engineering?
I’m proud to be part of an industry where more women are building successful careers and helping to shape the future of engineering. It’s encouraging to see greater diversity across the sector, and I think different perspectives help create stronger teams and better outcomes.
What’s been the most challenging part about being a female engineer so far?
For me, the biggest challenge has been building confidence in a completely new field. Coming into the role without a traditional engineering background meant learning a lot from scratch, but that experience has helped me grow both professionally and personally.
Have your views on gender changed in the workplace since entering engineering?
Working in engineering has highlighted the importance of representation and inclusion within the workplace. I’ve seen that skills, attitude and willingness to learn are far more important than gender, and it’s encouraging to see organisations continuing to promote opportunities for everyone.
Would you encourage other women to consider roles in engineering?
Absolutely. Engineering offers a wide range of opportunities, and not every role requires a traditional engineering degree or background. There are many different paths into the industry, and for anyone who is willing to learn and develop new skills, it can be a rewarding career choice.
What’s ahead for your career plans?
At the moment, I’m focused on continuing to develop my knowledge and experience within the Utilities sector. Having moved into the role from a different background, I’m keen to keep learning, take on new challenges and see where the opportunities within the industry lead in the future.
Contact: leah.newman@m-ec.co.uk