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Meet Fiona Scott
As we celebrate Women in Construction Week 2026, it’s time to meet Fiona Scott, a machine operator for RRVs on the railway and 360 excavators on civil engineering sites.
How did you get into the plant industry?
I took the leap of faith in 2019 after deciding that a conventional nine to five office job just wasn’t for me. I hated being stuck within the same four walls, micromanaged and I struggled with managing my workload.
I’ve got quite a big personality and found office work really boring and repetitive. I wanted something more practical to suit my skills, a job that was sociable, with constant changes of scenery and, ideally, better paid!
The trades/construction industry seemed the best way to go. I didn’t know if I would sink or swim but took the risk anyway and paid for my training independently at Holeside in Strathaven and, honestly, I’ve never looked back since. I did a good few years in civils before expanding into RRVs with Story Plant.
What was the biggest challenge you faced to start a career in plant?
It was a risk with no guaranteed work at the other side. I knew I would have to work fairly hard to prove myself being in the minority of the industry both as a young operator and as a female, so confidence was something I had to wing until I gained it for real.
What is the best thing about your job?
Undoubtedly the people. Being on site and having a laugh with your team is an unbeatable feeling. Whether you’re having a good or a bad day there is always banter. People have been so supportive which helped me massively in the early days and still does now.
Sometimes you might go a few months or even a few years without seeing someone, but you’ll likely bump into them again and it’s as if you’ve never been away. The relationships you build are genuine.
The job satisfaction I get is also huge for me. I can physically look back and see the work that I’ve done right in front of me. Some of the scenery and locations I get to work in are second to none as well.
What advice would you give to other young women considering a career in plant?
Go for it! I’ve never looked back and it’s true what they say – “if you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”.
If this is something you’re passionate about or if you feel stuck in your current job you’ve got nothing to lose. There are way more options available now and a lot more support for new operators joining the industry through local training centres and plant hire companies.
The demand for operators gets higher each year. As long as you’re hard working and willing to learn then you’ll do just fine - it’s lots of fun and definitely not as scary as you think!
If you are interested in exploring a career in plant, visit https://www.goconstruct.org/.