Meet Carly Wells – one of our Red7Marine Barge Masters. In May, Carly was shortlisted in the European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards as one of the leading Young Women working within the industry.
We are incredibly proud of Carly’s achievements and how much she has grown into her role. Find out more about Carly’s journey into construction in the blog post below.
Carly comments: “My career in the construction industry began after I left school, I went to college studying a construction course that consisted of bricklaying, joinery, painting, decorating, and plastering. I enjoyed the hands-on learning but also had an interest in the hospitality industry. A year after completing my construction course, I began studying an NVQ in Catering at Harton Technology College in May 2012. Shortly after this I began working as a chef at several Michelin star restaurants.
One day a mutual connection on LinkedIn reached out to say that Red7Marine was looking for a chef on board a long-term project beginning in Somerset. I had a call with the company’s recruiter and then started a week later.
I was a chef throughout the duration of the project at Hinkley Point C on board an 800t jack-up barge where Red7Marine was working for Costain supporting the construction of a 500m long marine jetty. The jetty was being constructed to enable materials to be delivered to site for the construction of the new nuclear power station. I had never even seen a barge before, let alone stepped foot on one so the whole experience was eye-opening.
Everything was so new and exciting, I began learning about piling, and how the jetty was being constructed and I wanted to find out more about the operational side of the business. Every minute I was not in the kitchen I was either up on the bridge with the Barge Masters or out on the deck trying to learn as much as I could. I knew after the first rotation that working on a barge was something I wanted to do, but never dreamed that it would be possible as I had no background experience.
I was determined to progress in an operational role so I qualified as a Slinger Signaller whilst continuing my work as a chef and assisting the Barge Masters with any duties I could. Just before my contract came to an end, Red7Marine approached me and said they were running a Trainee Barge Master programme and asked if I wanted to be a part of it. With no hesitation I accepted and felt incredibly lucky that they had picked up on my passion and inquisition.
I completed my two-week Marine Recruits Foundation Course in the summer of 2018 where I gained my Working at Height training and STCW Personal Survival Techniques certificate.
I have continued my training with Red7Marine ever since and I am now qualified as an Independent Jacking Engineer, working towards becoming a qualified Barge Master which I should achieve by the end of 2021.”
Carly is not only passionate about completing her training to become a Barge Master but also to be one of the only qualified female Barge Master’s in the UK. We are delighted to champion Carly in her career and her recognition within the European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards is a testament to her hard work and dedication.
