As part of our International Women's Day celebrations, we're celebrating some of the fantastic ladies we have working as part of our team at RiverRidge! Introducing our receptionist, Adele Owens.
What is your job role at RiverRidge?
I am receptionist for the RiverRidge group.
How long have you held this position?
I’ve been in this role for six years.
What does a normal day entail?
My day starts with opening, answering and diverting emails to the relevant departments. I am always readily available to greet and welcome visitors (sign in procedure) and also manage/look after any contractors that are on site. Part of my role is also to make sure the boardroom is available and set up when required. I also manage any mail that is delivered or any that requires posting. In between this, I complete small projects for different departments that includes looking after marketing materials, stationery etc.
The waste sector may be perceived as a male orientated sector. Have you experienced any adversity when you tell people the sector that you work in? If so, how do you overcome this?
I started in the waste industry in December 2004, and took up the role before I knew what career path I wanted to pursue. My role was providing administrative support for the sales team and I very much thought it was a male driven sector and I would not fit in.
Office based there were as many women as men, but as drivers and helpers, this would still largely be male dominated. I blended in with the sales and transport departments and quickly grew to love my job and got a thrill out of how fast the waste industry was moving and growing, how current it was in our mainstream lives, with us now recycling at home, work, and school.
Thankfully, I have never experienced any adversity from my male counterparts, or anyone who I have told that I work in the waste industry, which is an exciting sector to be a part of. Our children are growing up thinking about where to put their waste rather than just binning it. It has been very interesting and amazing to see our own company now turning waste into electricity by developing the first waste to energy facility in Northern Ireland, “Full Circle Generation” which takes our waste and through different processes, turns it into electricity.
How has RiverRidge helped you progress in your role?
As I have gotten older, I really wanted to foster children and RiverRidge has enabled me to do this by giving me a role that allows me to facilitate a full time job and foster a child at the same time. The company allows me the time to attend some training with our fostering company and other appointments that come with this
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Embrace Equity.’ In your experience, how has the company ensured that you are treated fairly and impartially in your role?
Through embracing equity, this forges unity and harmony working as a team and out of this it can only help us all to succeed. This has been the way forward for RiverRidge to work together and look out for each other as we all have different circumstances in our home and work life.
What advice would you give to anyone who is considering taking up a role that may be seen as ‘typically male’ orientated?
Using RiverRidge as an example, there have been many people within the company who have been encouraged to apply for roles that have traditionally been held by the opposite gender. The directors and managers within the company look at each individual and see their potential, then develop that potential to garner a successful career which benefits both the individual and the company. These people, after trying the role, have never looked back.
RiverRidge is a company that is very fair and impartial, and one that treats everyone with mutual respect, with strong interpersonal relationships and honest communications.
