MOD Empowered Women Blog – Ellie

I never saw myself, or expected, to end up working in the Ministry of Defence, or with the British Army.

I graduated from the University of Southampton in 2019, with a degree in English Literature and also undertook a Year Abroad in Madrid during my studies to expand my language skills, immerse myself in a new culture, and meet new people from around the world. This certainly wasn’t the easiest year for me personally, at times it felt rather isolating living in a country where I could get easily lost in a conversation. However, the quality of life, the people I met, and the travelling opportunities certainly made up for it and there is no doubt in my mind that it was the best decision to challenge myself and experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

During my final year of university, I applied and was successful in gaining a place on the Fast Stream – a Civil Service graduate scheme with a chance to make a real difference in the public sector. HR made sense to me, as it was all about supporting and getting the best out of people – it was a career that had a sense of purpose and positivity.

My first posting was in the Ministry of Justice, and I loved the variety and creativity involved in working in HR Policy. I gained a lot from this first placement and was sad to leave an exciting introduction to HR and the Civil Service. I was, therefore, slightly apprehensive when I was told that my next placement would be as an HR Business Partner supporting the British Army in the Ministry of Defence. I had not heard a lot about the department, but my assumptions were that it was male-dominated and had some complex issues.

As I was a more junior female working with colleagues who had significantly more experience than me, this certainly made me apprehensive at first. Similar to the language barrier I encountered in Madrid, the acronyms and language made me feel lost in certain meetings, but I knew from experience that this would improve with time (as it did in Madrid)! I also learnt to lean into my strengths; I could challenge the status quo, input creative solutions to complex problems, and use knowledge of technology to my advantage. Not only that, but I had a number of female role models to look up to in my immediate team as well as at more senior levels. I felt that this representation allowed me to feel seen at various levels of the organisation, and I could have honest and transparent conversations about my experience in both the MoD and the Army.

After nearly a year working with the Army, I feel more confident with the language and culture. Not only that, but for anyone else who joins the team – particularly if they’re female – I’m able to talk through my experiences and ensure they feel supported. My initial assumptions were also challenged – whilst a lot of the individuals I work with are indeed male, they are supportive, encouraging and respect my opinions. Working in the Ministry of Defence has been an enlightening experience and in my first year here I have felt empowered to make a positive difference in an organisation that really wants to grow and improve.

Ellie