The keep in touch days were useful

FOR Karla Stevenson, the fire brigade have been a leading light in gender equality.

She’s been with the service since 2000, rising from part-timer in the Highlands to full-time watch manager in Edinburgh.

Karla, right, was given a suitable training job when receiving IVF treatment and got good support when she became pregnant.

She said: “I told my manager about my plans and they made sure everything was in place. I didn’t have to worry about time off for appointments. It felt like a big weight off my mind.

“There were no issues around my pregnancy – my colleagues and my managers were just pleased for me.

“I had shared parental leave with my partner, which worked out really well. While you’re on maternity leave, you have ‘keeping in touch’ days where you can keep up your contacts and skills and find out if there are any changes in the organisation, and I found that really useful.

“When I returned to duty after my maternity leave, the opportunity to apply for a substantive watch manager’s role came up, and I was keen to apply. The service encouraged me to go for it and, when I was successful, I was delighted.”

The only comments about Karla’s gender came from the public in her early career.

She said: “Public perception has changed so much since then.”