Celebrating Women in STEM
To celebrate Women in STEM Day on 11 February, we are shining a spotlight on the career journeys of some of our inspirational female innovators here at SSEN Transmission, who are pushing the boundaries to help deliver a network for net zero.
We caught up with Amberle Gregory, who joined SSE in 2019 and is now with SSEN Transmission as an Innovation Project Manager. Amberle is also an Army reservist, and after serving six years in the British Army with tours of duty stretching the globe, she now continues to champion inclusion in the workplace for ex-forces personnel.
Amberle has recently been announced as a finalist in the Bupa Everywoman in Technology Awards, which celebrate the most inspirational women working in STEM. The ceremony takes place in London on 14 March and we’re wishing Amberle the best of luck!
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
“I joined the British Army at 19 and deployed on operations around the world before leaving at 26 due to having my son. I started my career in STEM from this point as I had previous experience in a technical telecoms’ role in the military. I started as a Project Support Officer in 2017 at an investment bank, supporting two portfolios of work before leaving as a PMO Analyst in 2019. This is where my career started with SSE.
“I initially joined SSE in Energy Solutions as a PMO Analyst before taking an opportunity with Distribution as PMO Manager in 2021. I worked on Project LEO and Transition throughout my time with Distribution, where I took the role as Project Manager to deliver two innovative systems which enabled management of our systems using local energy. Following the project closure, I then moved to Transmission in September 2023 as an Innovation Project Manager for Business Funded Innovations, a new area to the Innovation team.
Q: When and why did you choose a career in STEM?
“I chose a career in STEM after leaving the British Army. I worked in Telecoms as an operator within my military career and enjoyed the challenging but interesting environments and therefore wanted to continue in a technical role.
“I find innovation fascinating, and what we can now achieve compared to 20 years ago is mind-blowing. I find technology and innovation are very closely linked so I naturally followed this path due to my interests.”
Q: What are you working on now at SSEN Transmission to help on our journey towards net zero?
“I am working on a few innovative projects that enable better management of our assets and are looking to increase the capacity of our existing network without reinforcement, providing a better and more reliable experience to those who use our network.
“The projects are currently in a trial phase with the plan to roll out wider if successful. I am also assisting with the ASTI (Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment) initiative which aims to deliver 50GW of offshore wind to our network, working towards net zero.”
Q: Do you have any career advice or tips for those aspiring to have a career in STEM?
“I would advise to say yes as often as you can. Take opportunities when they are available and not to let worry or fear stop you from going for anything that you want to.
“I have been terrified many times, thinking I might not know enough or be experienced enough but 99% of the time I usually surprise myself. So just say yes more often to opportunities and have more confidence in yourself when doing so.”
If you're looking to power change and passionate about a career in STEM, search our careers page.