Meet our people

Hannah Barret

Assistant Solutions Engineer, Engineering

"I started as a Modern Apprentice nearly six years ago. Since then, I feel I've developed really quickly. The training on the apprenticeship was intensive. I went to college to study for my BTEC, then I did a foundation degree. I'm now about to finish my Civil Engineering degree at university."

What does your current role involve?

I work in the team that improves sewage systems, in order to prevent residential flooding. We design solutions to enhance or replace things like storage tanks or the pipework under the roads. Most of the work involves office-based design, which will then be implemented by contractors out in the field. It’s really important work, because the whole area of flooding is very high profile and has big implications for public health. It can be quite complex too, because a lot of the sewers are very old.

How did you start out at Severn Trent? What’s your career path been?

I started as a Modern Apprentice nearly six years ago. Since then, I feel I’ve developed really quickly. The training on the apprenticeship was intensive. I went to college to study for my BTEC, then I did a foundation degree. I’m now about to finish my Civil Engineering degree at university. At the same time, my responsibilities at work have increased greatly. When I first started, I would be looking at small but important aspects of projects, like locating other utilities underground or producing small-scale CAD drawings. But now I’m actually managing my own projects, all the way from start to finish.

How has working at Severn Trent met or challenged your expectations?

In many ways, my expectations have been surpassed. I expected people to be helpful, of course, but even today I’m surprised just how much time people are prepared to give you. They’re always happy to sit down and help you out with anything you need.

What’s been the biggest surprise about the company?

I’m surprised how comfortable I feel here. It’s a real team environment. Everyone’s totally approachable and the atmosphere is great. It’s very open.

What do you like best about working here?

My favourite aspect is the range of different challenges you can experience day to day. It’s never mundane and there’s always something new to learn.

What are you most looking forward to, in the short, medium or long term?

I’m really looking forward to gaining my incorporated engineer status with the Institution of Civil Engineers. Gaining those letters after my name is the next big milestone in my career development.