In the next instalment of our Route to Renewables series, we spoke to Operations & Maintenance Engineer, Alexa Belsham, about her career and what it’s like to be a woman working in STEM.
On June 23rd, STEM industries across the world celebrate International Women in Engineering Day. While we are seeing more girls and young women show an interest in engineering, in 2024it was estimated that only 16.5% of engineers in the UK are women*.
At Red Rock, we are passionate about encouraging more young women and girls to consider careers in engineering and the renewables industry in general, through our STEM outreach activities in local schools to sharing Alexa’s story.
What did you want to do when you were younger?
I was always far better with numbers than words and enjoyed maths and science at school. But by the end of secondary school, I was falling out of love with physics. The focus on tiny particles I couldn’t see felt intangible and a bit boring. It was actually my mum who suggested I consider engineering. She found a taster course specifically for girls run by the Engineering Development Trust. I gave it a go and it was a lightbulb moment – this is what I want to do.
There are many different types of engineering. What route did you take to get to your current role?
It was a bit of a round about route… I have always liked cars and planes so originally planned to be an aerospace engineer. I did a very broad engineering course which had a bit of everything. I was rubbish at the aero parts but really enjoyed the electrical side.
After graduating, I spent some time working in automation and control. I worked on the SCADA system that drives Tower Bridge and have some wonderful photos from that project. Then about halfway through Covid, it was time for a change of scenery and I wanted a change of industry. I applied for a job in renewables and spent four years as an electrical engineer looking after onshore wind farms in the UK.
In October 2025 I moved to Red Rock and am now using that broad engineering degree again because I get involved with a bit of everything!
What was it about renewables that interested you?
Renewables is here to stay; it is the future. I really like being part of an industry that is going forwards. Energy is a critical resource that everyone uses every day and, if anything, the demand for energy is only going to rise. Also, onshore wind farms are often in really stunning locations and I love standing on the top of a hill and thinking “this is a pretty good office”!
What’s your favourite thing about engineering?
I love problem solving – particularly in collaboration with others in the team – when you can sit down, throw ideas around and slowly move towards a solution. It is such a good feeling when after working on something for a while it suddenly clicks into place and does what you want it to. And then you can point at something and say “I was part of that”.
Have you faced any challenges in the industry that you think are unique to being a woman?
Yes, for sure. I do always notice when I am the only woman in the room, which is still fairly often.
I think all female engineers have stories of when things have not gone the way they should. I once did some commissioning work at a factory where there was only one woman who worked in this section of the building, and she was on holiday. Unfortunately, she was the only person with a key to the ladies!
I do also feel a pressure to be visible as a ‘female engineer’. I know how important it is to have role models, but it can be draining. I really want to do my part, but hopefully there will come a time where there is nothing unusual about being female and also being an engineer.
What support has made the biggest difference in your career so far?
I absolutely would not have gone into engineering without the courses I did through the Engineering Development Trust. After finishing school, I did a yearlong internship in industry organised through them. I really wanted to triple check it was the right path for me before spending years of my life studying, and it was such a valuable experience. It really helped put things into context when I did start university, and it was great to have that experience on my CV when I was applying for jobs after I graduated.
What do you do to share your passion for your career with others?
I am part of Red Rock’s STEM ambassador programme. I was given a chance to get a feel for engineering when I was at school and it made a huge difference to my life. So, if going into a school and doing an activity encourages just one young person to think about it as a possible career – that’s a win.
Finally, what would you say to girls and young women who might not see engineering as an option for them?
I think we need to show young women that they might well be doing engineering already without even realising it. I always enjoyed crafting as a kid and I do a lot of crochet now – something you wouldn’t stereotypically think of as engineering, but actually they are all about being creative, making things and understanding how things are put together. These are all the skills you need to be a successful engineer.
*Fig from Women’s Engineering Society, 2026.