A GLAM woman ditched her “girly” office job to double her income as a drain engineer – and now loves spending her days shovelling bird poo and cleaning fat out of factory tanks.
Sarah Thompson, 28, left school aged 16, and worked in supermarkets before moving to a job in a call centre for six years.
But in October 2022, Sarah decided she wanted a job with more room to grow and learn, and she was tired of running out of money by the end of each month.
Sarah jumped at the offer of a chance to train as a drain engineer for a family business and has never looked back.
She now scrapes bird poo off roofs, cleans out factory fat tanks, lifts heavy manhole covers and drives all sorts of vans, but said she’s never been happier, or stronger.
The switch has more than doubled Sarah’s income, from £19,000 a year to £40,000, which has made it possible for her to buy her first home for £350,000.
Sarah, from Thurrock, Essex, said: “Honestly this has been the best thing that I’ve ever done.
“The work is really fun.
“I never had a plan for a career when I was little, and I definitely didn’t think I’d be working with poo and rats and enjoying it as much as I do.
“It was always my dream to work my way up to the top and to make loads of money – that’s still the plan.
“Every job I do I find the passion in it and give it my all.
“I loved my ‘girly’ job, but there wasn’t enough room for promotion, and no way for me to up my money.
“I really wanted to buy a home of my own but I was putting in all these hours and making a pittance. I love the self-sufficiency and therefore confidence my now job has given me.
“This job is really good for me mentally too, I’m so busy that I don’t have time for overthinking, and it keeps me concentrating but in a really healthy, active, way.
“I love it when we go into schools because all the kids see that I’m a woman drain engineer and they’re always really excited about that. I know I’m a good example to them and that’s a great feeling.”
GIRLY LIFE
Sarah worked 9 to 5 as a call centre operative from the age of 19.
Her team of girls had fun dressing up to go into the office and admiring each other’s outfits.
At lunchtime they went shopping together, in Romford, and would get their nails done.
Last thing on a Friday desks were littered with mirrors, lip stick, and mascara’s, and glad rags were hung up all over the office.
“Our boss always laughed at us”, Sarah said.
MAKING THE SWITCH
In October 2022 Sarah’s brother in law was looking for a new recruit to join his drain company, Pipeline Drain Solutions, and Sarah’s sister asked if she wanted to give it a whirl.
Sarah started, thinking it would be temporary, but discovered she loved the work and is still there three years on.
“I was like ‘well, it’s something new’” she said.
I never had a plan for a career when I was little, and I definitely didn’t think I’d be working with poo and rats and enjoying it as much as I do
Sarah Thompson
Sarah had to get used to the amount of spiders she encounters but loves that no two days are the same.
She spends her time poking cameras down drains, blasting out blockages, and fixing holes in pipes.
Some days the whole team get into protectives suits, which Sarah says make them look like they’re wearing “full-body condoms”, and they get inside fat tanks and scrape out all the lumps.
Sarah had to get used to the amount of spiders she encounters but loves that no two days are the same[/caption]
On other days Sarah can be found on roofs scraping bird poo and other debris into rubbish bags.
She said: “I love this job. I’ve learned so much already and there’s still so much more for me to discover.
“I want all women and girls to know they can do jobs that are stereotypically for men, and jobs where they get their hands dirty.
“Just because you do a hands-on job doesn’t mean you can’t look nice. I still do my hair every morning and I have my nails done every three weeks. I keep a nail brush in my bag and I double up on gloves.
“I have to lift manhole covers, some of them are easily as heavy as I am, and using the jet wash is very hard work.
She spends her time poking cameras down drains, blasting out blockages, and fixing holes in pipes[/caption]
“I don’t need to go to the gym any more because my job keeps me fit and strong, and gives me lots of fresh air.
“Also I didn’t used to drive much, just to the office, but I drive all kinds of vehicles now and over long distances – my driving confidence has increased dramatically. It’s amazing.
“To be honest scraping scale out of urinals is the hardest job. It really stings your eyes.
“I think I’ve been most surprised by how many toads I find.”
The rise of undertaker jobs as eco-friendly funerals gain popularity
IT’S the one industry all of us are guaranteed to use yet working as a funeral arranger is still seen as an unusual career choice.
The sector is relatively small with around 20,000 undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants working nationally, plus jobs in support services such as coffin making and headstone and memorial carvers.
A rise in eco-friendly funerals and more families choosing highly personalised celebrations rather than traditional mourning means the industry is attracting a wider range of talent.
Dubbed the “Youngertaker”, many staff are joining straight from school or college, attracted by the caring nature of the profession.
A spokesman for the National Association of Funeral Directors explains: “Funeral service is not always included in the list of caring professions recommended by career advisors, but it should be.”
More people are also joining the sector later in life, often after seeing how funeral staff cared for one of their own loved ones.
As well as practical aspects, the job also requires emotional skills to provide support and advice to families.
Salaries are slightly below the national average, but most staff point to the immense job satisfaction.
Large firms such as Dignity and Co-operative Funerals have launched apprenticeship schemes.
