The Women in Bus and Coach “Spotlight On” initiative shines a light on the incredible contributions of women in all roles across the bus, coach, and community transport sector. From professional drivers and engineers to human resources experts and CEO’s, ‘Spotlight On’ will highlight the diverse talents and achievements of women in this dynamic industry.
Today we focus on and find out about:
Sarah Courtney
SQAT Supplier Quality Assurance Technician
Wrightbus
Was engineering something you always wanted to do? How did this career come to mind?
I started off as a Bench Joiner when I came into bus and coach manufacturing for Wrightbus, working on the shop floor learning different skills along the way. I strived to work towards the quality department, and I am now a Supplier Quality Assurance Technician for Wrightbus.
Did anyone inspire or support you along the way?
Everyone I work with inspires me. As a team, we help to support each other, and every department supports each other – we all play a part in helping one another with our daily tasks. There are some I turn to more than others as we have grown within the company.
How did you get to where you are today?
I started my career at Patton’s Joinery, where I won Apprentice of the Year award and a Women in Construction award, before moving into the bus industry.
I worked on the shopfloor doing different packages, constantly learning and growing my skill set along with my colleagues.
When I was pregnant, a mentor within the supplier quality department took me under his wing and that’s where I found that I wanted to further my career within that sector.
I worked on the production line at Wrightbus before finally moving into my role as a supplier quality assurance technician, where I work with suppliers every day and build great working relations with their teams and our own different departments.
I’ve always strived for the best quality within my own work.
Did you experience any challenges getting to where you are today?
Yes, there were and sometimes still are times when I doubt myself or feel out of my depth, especially when changing roles or learning something completely new.
If so, how did you overcome them?
By staying focused on what I wanted to achieve for myself and others in my team, I also lean on the support of my team and took all challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow and to prove to myself that I am capable. I know I can always count on my team to help me overcome these hurdles.
What do you like about the Bus, Coach and Community Transport sector?
I love being part of an industry that keeps people and different companies connected. There is a great sense of purpose in knowing the work we do impacts the lives and communities all over the world. The bus and coach sector is always changing, which keeps the work interesting.
What does a typical day look like?
My day consists of working closely with suppliers to ensure quality standards are met. I review documentation and drawings and inspect parts to ensure they conform to our standards. I liaise with different departments to ensure we resolve any concerns efficiently, and complete safety critical audits and internal audits in accordance with ISO:9001. No two days are the same, it keeps the job interesting.
What’s one myth you’d like to bust about being an engineer?
That it’s a “man’s job”. Most of the woman I have had the pleasure to work with are a force to be reckoned with. We help each other and we have also trained plenty of the men on the shop floor on how to do the job correctly.
What advice would you give to women thinking about a career in the bus, coach or community transport sector?
Go for it, it’s a great opportunity to learn skills and to further your career with a sense of accomplishment. Don’t be scared to step into the unknown and always speak up, know your worth, your input is valuable. Some may not want to hear it, so say it louder and be confident in your abilities.
What has been your bus, coach or community transport sector career highlight?
My highlight is being promoted to my current role as a Supplier Quality Assurance Technician, this is my proudest accomplishment so far. It reflects the hard work that I have put in this motivates me to continue pushing further in my career here at Wrightbus.
What three things could the bus, coach or community transport sector do to improve the industry for Women?
- They could communicate more with schools, techs and universities to show all departments available in the sector for girls and women. If they knew more about the sector, many may feel like it’s a possibility.
- Having more women in visible leadership roles and for those women to represent the sector more.
- And having the girls/women starting out feel safe, valued, and respected make their voices heard.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
I can see myself continuing to grow within the supplier quality department, hopefully as a step up into an engineering role where I can help guide others and contribute to continuous improvement withing Wrightbus. I would like to expand my technical knowledge further, take on more responsibility, and hopefully mentor others starting out the way the Wrightbus team helped me when I began my journey.
Anything else you would like to share?
I would like to thank my team as they are forever growing with me and I know I can always count on them to help me when needed, and all the people in different departments within Wrightbus – we all rely on each other to get the job done.
Thank you for sharing Sarah, your story truly makes a difference.
To find out more about who Sarah works for, and career opportunities visit: https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/join-us
