A recruitment expert at Thames Water has been recognised for her work connecting women with careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

(L-R) Rebecca Taylor, Sam Saunders and Abigail Farnham

At the Thames Water Supplier Awards, the focus of the Be Respectful and Value Everyone nomination for Sam Saunders, a Resourcing Business Partner, based in Reading, was promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone feels respected and valued.

Sam, employed by Pertemps to support Thames Water’s recruitment needs, launched a dedicated Connecting with Women in STEM initiative at Thames Water in April this year with the aim of providing a platform for women to connect both currently and for prospective STEM roles.

Her work on the project, so far, has included a learning session series on imposter syndrome attended by more than 130 Thames Water colleagues, connecting with more than 400 students through a schools outreach programme and creating opportunities with Open University to encourage women in tech.

Pertemps Director Abigail Farnham said: “Although this work has involved the collective contributions of many people across the business, it's Sam who took the initiative to launch and guide this community.

“Despite her demanding work responsibilities, she recognised the significance and advantages and so dedicated herself to establishing a productive community. Sam not only assumed a leadership role within the programme, but also proactively engaged individuals throughout the company to generate momentum and harness resources efficiently.

“I am very proud that she has been recognised in this way by Thames Water.”