Posted on Monday 23rd June 2025
Jess Banbury after passing her Class 2 HGV driving test.
A technician from Staffordshire is encouraging more women and girls to consider a career in highways as the industry marks Women in Engineering Day on June 23.
Jess Banbury, a Pre-Site Technician with Staffordshire County Council’s highways team, is sharing her story to inspire others to follow in her footsteps and challenge traditional gender roles in a male-dominated sector.
Jess said:
“Pretty much my car is my office. I like that my job is just different all the time. I’m always in different places.
“As a woman, people do look at you differently - especially in public, they definitely take a second glance! It’s taken time to prove I can do everything the guys can do but I’ve done it and it’s good to turn things around. Even the small things, like getting PPE that fits women, it’s taken a while but now we have it here ready for anyone new coming in.”
Jess, who is based at the council's Gailey depot, had dreamed of working in engineering since her school days. Wanting a job that was hands-on and outdoors, she knew she might face challenges as a woman entering the field without any qualifications.
As a single mother to daughters Francesca, 7, and Arya, 6, Jess once juggled three jobs and struggled to find something that worked around her family life.
That all changed in March 2022 when she attended a ‘Journey to Work’ event at South Staffordshire District Council, where Amey - the council’s highways partner - was recruiting.
There, she shared her passion for highways work and her need for part-time hours due to childcare. The team worked with her to find a solution and she was recruited as a Highways Maintenance Operative.
Jess has now enjoyed working at Staffordshire Highways for over three years, supporting roadworks and traffic management. Her hard work and dedication earned her promotion to Pre-Site Technician in November 2024.
She recently passed her Class 2 HGV test, meaning she’ll be joining the county’s winter gritting teams this coming winter.
Jess said:
“If you’re a woman and you are considering getting into engineering, I’d say just go for it. Just give it a go. You might end up loving it like I do. I love every minute of my job.”
Jess has also been nominated for an Inspirational Apprentice Award as part of the Department for Transport’s Special Recognition Awards, to be announced at the LCRIG Innovation and Learning Festival in July.
Her impact doesn’t stop there. Jess now returns to the same recruitment events that helped launch her career in highways but, this time, to support others thinking about making the leap.
Councillor Daniel Cecil, Cabinet Support Member for Highways South at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“Jess is a brilliant example of how determination, talent and the right support can break down barriers.
“Her story is inspiring in that she is not only doing incredibly in her role but she’s helping pave the way for other women to join the industry too. We’re proud to support Women in Engineering Day and hope Jess’s journey will encourage others to consider a career in highways."
If you are interested in working for Staffordshire Highways, view job vacancies at Careers At Amey.
Watch on YouTube: Jess urges women interested in engineering to ‘go for it’