Kirkby Stephen Woman Recognised As Rising Star In Engineering
A 20-year-old woman from Kirkby Stephen has been recognised for her achievements after completing her training as a fibre splicer on a major rural broadband project.
Sarah Dow joined telecommunications infrastructure company Viberoptix around 20 months ago and has since developed specialist skills in a role traditionally associated with men.
Her progress was recently recognised when she received one of the company’s Rising Star awards at its ConnectHER Awards, an event celebrating the achievements and contributions of women across the business.
Sarah, who previously attended Kirkby Stephen Grammar School, left education at the age of 16 before working as a landscaper. Her route into telecommunications began when a friend’s mother introduced her to an apprenticeship opportunity.
She became one of a large group of apprentices employed by broadband provider Fibrus since 2021. Viberoptix operates as part of the wider Fibrus group, which holds the Project Gigabit contract responsible for delivering superfast broadband infrastructure to rural areas of Cumbria.
Her apprenticeship provided training across several areas relevant to working safely in the field. This included qualifications covering overhead safety, first aid, safe working in pits and cable installation.
Sarah said she particularly enjoys the practical nature of fault-finding, explaining that identifying problems and restoring equipment gives her a strong sense of satisfaction. She also believes the industry is changing and that women should not be discouraged from pursuing technical roles because of outdated perceptions.
She said that people may not traditionally picture women carrying out this type of work, but argued that attitudes are changing. For Sarah, enjoying the work and being willing to pursue a career that interests you are more important than assumptions about who should perform a particular job.
Her career has also taken her well beyond the traditional workplace environment. The role requires extensive travel across Cumbria, with Sarah sometimes driving hundreds of miles while working outdoors in a range of weather conditions.
Working across rural areas has been another positive aspect of the job for Sarah. She said the opportunity to work outdoors and see parts of Cumbria while helping develop the region’s broadband network is one of the highlights of her role.
The position also combines independent working with collaboration. Sarah said the balance between solving problems herself and working alongside colleagues and subcontractors has helped her develop greater confidence in the workplace.
Her experience demonstrates the range of opportunities available within the telecommunications and engineering sectors, particularly for young people entering the industry through apprenticeships and practical training.
Women currently account for around 30 per cent of the Fibrus workforce, with the company working towards achieving an equal gender balance by 2028.
Claire McCay, HR director at Viberoptix, praised Sarah’s contribution since joining the organisation. She said Sarah had made a positive impact, embraced the training programme and shown a strong willingness to learn and develop.
McCay added that Sarah’s progression into her current fibre splicing role demonstrated that women can succeed in positions that may previously have been viewed as traditionally male dominated.
Sarah’s recognition comes as businesses across the engineering and telecommunications sectors continue to focus on attracting a broader range of people into technical careers. Her progression also highlights how apprenticeships can provide an alternative route into skilled employment for young people.
For Sarah, the experience has provided an opportunity to build a specialist career while working across the Cumbrian countryside. Her Rising Star recognition marks another milestone in a career that began with an apprenticeship and has already taken her into a highly practical technical profession.
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