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Growing up, Ashleigh Whitaker was not like the other girls in her neighbourhood. While they were playing with dolls, she would be perched on her porch mesmerised by dump trucks going in and out of a nearby quarry.

It was the childhood fascination that drove her to follow a career in heavy-equipment operation, and this month she marked a milestone as the first woman to be certified at Inspire Cayman Centre in that field.

“It was very overwhelming. It was exciting,” said the 27-year-old mom of one, recounting how she received her certificate from the Inspire Cayman team after finishing her training on the Telstar equipment simulator.

Breaking barriers

Whitaker is one of two women training at the Grand Harbour training centre to be certified in heavy equipment using the simulator.

The other is Chrystal Bush, 32, who is currently nearing the end of her training, which has been two years in the making.

Bush said she had signed up for the course previously, but was unable to get in.

Now, however, she is in the class thanks to a government scholarship.

“I feel like I [have] accomplished the goal that I was trying to reach then, but I’m still not there fully, until I get where I need to get and pass the course,” Bush said.

Whitaker said getting to the point of completion was no easy task for her as she had to overcome a lot of hurdles and challenges, not just with the course, but with her personal development as well.

Inspire Cayman Chief Operating Officer Sean Glidden oversees Ashleigh Whitaker (left) and Chrystal Bush while they use the simulators at the Inspire Cayman Training Centre. – Photo: Reshma Ragoonath

However, she persevered and even left her male counterparts in the dust, topping her training sessions driving and manoeuvring through the heavy equipment modules.

Sean Glidden, Inspire Cayman Training Centre’s chief operating officer, said he was pleased to see Whitaker excel.

“She did an excellent job,” he said, adding that Whitaker was able to complete one of the biggest trench tasks using the simulator within a reasonable amount of time, “which was very impressive”.

He said he was pleased to see young Caymanian women taking up the challenge to train in a field that has been traditionally associated with men.

“It’s an amazing thing to see that it’s not just male dominated anymore,” Glidden said. “That there is an equality in the heavy equipment simulation certification, which is really fantastic.’

Goals in sight

For Whitaker and Bush, their first experiences of using a heavy-equipment simulator was an eye-opener because it was so realistic.

Inspire Cayman trainee Chrystal Bush going through her training on the heavy equipment simulator. Photo: Reshma Ragoonath

“The first time sitting in the simulator, it was close to being in a real excavator because it does rock around, it moves. It’s not necessarily like playing a video game. It vibrates if I move the boom in too much, I can break the glass [in the simulated equipment]. It’s real close in comparison to the real thing,” Whitaker said.

The realistic nature of the machine and the training delivered by Glidden, she said, made her feel that her childhood dream of driving trucks and heavy equipment would come true.

“I’m not in the heavy-equipment field currently, but I do plan to find my way, to make it into the heavy-equipment field and utilise my certificate and use it as an example to inspire other women,” she said.

Bush said using the equipment at first was a bit rattling.

“It was a bit shaky because I was pretty much all over the place,” she said, but once she got the hang of it, she was able to control the machine, “and then, from there on out, it’s been good.”

Dave Sutherland, heavy duty equipment instructor at Inspire Cayman, said he was thrilled to have females showing an interest in the construction field and in heavy equipment.

He said seeing his students using the simulator to train has been rewarding as “it creates that very delicate balance between fun and learning”.

“They get that real challenge. However, it’s done in a very safe and controlled environment and it adds… fun so they can enjoy the process,” Sutherland said.

Opportunities abound

Both Glidden and Sutherland agree the demand for skilled construction labour is growing, as evidenced by consistent job market reports.

“My personal philosophy – skill is power. In choosing a career, it’s important that you look at the labour market and choose a career in a field that’s emerging, that’s booming, and fits your skill sets and interests,” Sutherland said.

He added that operators earn top dollars and young Caymanians looking for job opportunities should consider construction as a career.

Glidden said interest is already picking up, and 18 people have signed up for the programme with the helping hand of the TVET scholarship from government.

Workforce Opportunities Residency Cayman is also offering scholarships to students to be able to get through the programme, he added, “which is a tremendous help”.

“We continue to need more funding to continue these programme to help Caymanians to move forward… We were seeing momentum and I think we can continue with the momentum,” Glidden said.

While Whitaker and Bush are yet to get into the driver’s seat in their heavy equipment of choice, they encouraged Caymanian women to follow their dreams if they are interested in joining the construction industry.

“Don’t listen to anybody, regardless of the fact that it’s something that they see most men doing, women can do it as well. So don’t let anybody stop you from following your passion,” Bush said.