A graduate SHEQ profile with Lauren Ruddy

Lauren Ruddy began her career at RSK as a graduate safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) advisor in the Europe division. Since then, she’s been promoted to SHEQ advisor for Europe and Latin America and has found the graduate position at RSK has not only opened up opportunities and expanded her knowledge but has also given her the confidence to excel. 

“I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in which I could help people and make a difference. Environmental health was such a broad subject to study that it allowed me to delve into several areas, such as housing, food safety, public health and health and safety. I’ve always been curious about health and safety, having come from a family that has always worked in some form of construction. I felt it was a misunderstood subject, and was motivated to pursue it as a career to change people’s attitudes towards it.” 

After graduating from Liverpool John Moores University in 2021 with a degree in environmental health, Lauren returned home to Ireland, intending to find a job right away, but then found her search hampered by COVID-19. Finding it difficult to obtain work during the pandemic, especially as many roles required her to have a driving licence, she began working part-time at a supermarket and started driving lessons to increase her chances of getting a job in her chosen field. Many of the junior and graduate jobs she was finding required two to three years’ experience, but when she discovered RSK through a former classmate’s LinkedIn profile, Lauren spotted a SHEQ graduate position that was the opportunity she’d been looking for. 

“I made it clear I was in the process of obtaining my driver’s licence and everyone was extremely accommodating, considering that it was down as essential criteria for the job. I didn’t even expect to get an interview, but I did. When I found out I’d got the job, I was really happy but surprised that a company of this size would be willing to support me in progressing with my career so early on, despite having come straight from university with little to no industry experience. I was so grateful for RSK seeing my potential and giving me the opportunity to begin my career and progress as a health and safety professional.” 

Lauren’s career at RSK began as a graduate SHEQ advisor in the Europe division. Working in the European team has given Lauren access to several different industries, including ecology, geoscience, mining and drilling. 

“I was grateful to be given time to settle in and familiarise myself with the processes and procedures within the safety, health, environment and quality management system (SHEQMS) that’s in place here at RSK. It was a chance to gain a greater understanding of the company as a whole. The diversity of my workload means I constantly get to increase my knowledge of European legislation and work with businesses all over the world. I even had the opportunity to travel and work with a number of businesses across Ireland and one in Spain to support an audit.” 

In her first year as a graduate, Lauren worked closely with the environmental team, helping to carry out environmental aspects and impacts assessments across the region. She also worked as part of a team that ensured all businesses within the division were compliant and onboarded onto a new chemical management system. Her work saw her help with vendor management, audits, inspections and the integration of new businesses and she was tasked with carrying out an incident analysis, which allowed her to identify trends and push new ideas for safety campaigns. 

“I took part in a first responder spill training course, which enabled me to become a trainer in this field. Recently, I delivered this training alongside a colleague to a business of 60 employees: something that I would never have had the confidence to do before working at RSK. Having completed site inspections and audits and led meetings, I’ve now been given the chance to lead my own integration of a new business unit. As a result of my work and with the support of the SHEQ team in making me a more knowledgeable SHEQ professional, I’ve recently been promoted to SHEQ advisor.” 

Lauren’s colleagues have supported her during her time as a graduate, with some even taking the time to travel over to Ireland to help expand her knowledge of certain industries. 

“Since joining RSK, I have found that my colleagues have made a monumental difference in my journey. There’s always someone in the group willing to offer their help and support when needed. Colleagues have travelled over from England to support me on site visits and have helped boost my knowledge of certain industries such as drilling. 

My divisional team also invited me on-site with them to gain experience as a new graduate. This gave me time to observe and shadow more experienced colleagues so that I could build my confidence on-site and work my way up to carrying out these visits on my own. I have learned so much from my colleagues and this knowledge will be passed on to those who come into the company and may seek my help in the future. 

RSK has also supported my career development and I’ve been on various training courses to help me progress with that and my journey to chartership. The group has sponsored me to obtain a general certificate from NEBOSH, the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health, which has increased my overall knowledge of health and safety.” 

There can be challenges and Lauren admits that while she works hard to conquer them, it is a work in progress. 

“I suffered from imposter syndrome when I first started at RSK and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still feel like that now and again. It’s natural, especially when starting your first job in your chosen career, but overcoming these feelings is a work in progress and I actively try to combat it by keeping open communication with my line manager, completing my tasks to the best of my ability and asking plenty of questions if I am unsure.” 

Taking up a graduate position is something Lauren highly recommends. 

“Working at RSK enables you to gain a wealth of experience in so many industries and will help early careers professionals find their passion. There are endless opportunities to broaden your horizons within RSK and work in sectors that you may never have had the opportunity to before. I have learned more with RSK than I would have working for a single company owing to its size and the range of services that we provide. 

“The commitment to employee career progression makes it a great company to work for and training will always be available to you internally and externally. I’ve always felt encouraged to be the best I can be and the support has always been there for me to flourish.” 

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