Catherine Mills (Yorkshire Water)

Name: Catherine Mills

Subject: BSc Geography 

Year Graduated: 2015

College: County

Where am you now and what are you doing:

After I graduated from Lancaster University I moved to Leeds to start a career with Yorkshire Water. I have done a couple of roles since joining YW, ranging from Commercial Coordinator to Water Quality Scientist. I am now working as the Risk and Outperformance Manager for our Asset Management Department. I focus on driving savings and efficiency across our Capital Programme and reporting it to our Regulators, as well as facilitating the project risk management process.

What would you like to do next?

I would like to develop in my role, completing end of year, and maybe end of AMP Outperformance Reporting. I would also like to undertake Risk Management training to become more specialised in the subject rather than acting as a facilitator.

Why did you chose to study at Lancaster:

I chose to study at Lancaster because I loved the atmosphere on and off campus. I felt like the university offered everything I wanted and felt like a home away from home from my first visit.

What was your favourite part of your degree and why?

My favourite part of my degree was the flexibility of my course. Studying BSc Geography allowed me to undertake a variety of modules which covered physical geography, human geography and environmental science. It allowed me to discover an interest in the Water Industry and tailor my modules to set me up for a career in it.

How do you think your time at Lancaster prepared you for what you’re currently doing?

Lancaster prepared me for what I am doing now because it sparked my interest in the Water Industry and it provided me with a thorough understanding of how the Water Sector works and water resource management. The most valuable skills I gained were data management, analysis and problem solving which I use on a daily basis in my role.

What did you most enjoy about time at Lancaster (Including extra-curricular activities and beyond?)

Studying at Lancaster allowed me to study something that really interested me but also get involved in new things. During my time at Lancaster I had the opportunity to volunteer in South Africa at a cheetah sanctuary, join various societies (hiking and real ale) and start getting involved in WaterAid, which I am still very involved in to this day. The balance between a course I found interesting and the opportunity to do lots in my spare time was what I enjoyed most about Lancaster.