Dig this! Amy is in top 100
Dalmally’s own Digger Girl, Amy Underwood, is officially one of the UK’s top 100 women in construction.
The former Oban High School pupil, who works with her dad in the family business together with one other employee, has more than 440,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok.
Influencer Amy says the accolade from the National Federation of Builders is an honour and hopes it will help boost the construction industry becoming even more women-inclusive.
Amy said: ‘It’s an honour frankly. I don’t do what I do for the publicity: I found a job that I love and I am so happy that it has led to such an award, but I feel that I need to use this opportunity to further the progress the industry is making when it comes to including and developing women in construction.
‘I’d tell every girl to go for it if they want to work in construction. It’s not all easy – it can be hard work and graft, but you get out of it what you put into it, which is rewarding.’
The Digger Girl tag started with posting pictures of herself at work on her own Instagram page.
Her friends were not so interested in seeing pictures of diggers but then she discovered another digger fan page and thought she would give it a go herself.
‘It’s actually turned out to be a very busy year between plant, shows and filming. Back in July the Hyundai team came out to Taynuilt to film me trying their latest machine. It was nice having something close to home and we had great weather for it.
‘I’ve been all over the UK, with shows this year, as well as Ireland. My most recent trip was to Germany – a show called BAUMA – which is the world’s largest trade show, I think. I spent a few days there, mostly working, but I got to have a good look around and try some German beers,’ she said.
Driving diggers and joining her dad’s business at John Underwood Plant Hire was not always the plan. When Amy was at school she wanted to be a mechanic. She said: ‘It was always something I was in and around, but I actually wanted to be a mechanic. I went to a number of the garages in town after school one day in my school uniform, and got turned away from them all. Then Dad said I could start working with him until I found something.
‘I think everyone who works alongside family will say the same – it can be very challenging at times! Thankfully, Dad and I both know where we stand and what we have together, which makes the business work,’ explained Amy.
Whether it is working on house sites, hill roads or ditches – anything that needs a digger – is all in a day’s work for Amy.
From hardcore excavators to mini diggers, Amy says she does not really have a favourite piece of machinery, but the chance to operate a 50-tonne Hyundai excavator at a recent machine plant show was ‘an amazing opportunity’, she said, adding: ‘It was the biggest machine I have driven – only this time I had an audience of thousands of people, which I don’t really enjoy in real life! I honestly don’t have a favourite. I like everything, every machine has it pros and cons. But the machine I use most is my eight-tonne Kubota mini excavator,’ she said.
As for what comes next, Amy said: ‘I’m taking every day as it comes, because every day there’s something new on the cards. I have a lot of support around me and I’m really thankful for that.’