Harvey was one of the many women who took on industrial jobs when the country needed them most during the Second World War.
In 1940, at the age of 18, Janet Harvey joined the workforce to help the war effort as an electrician in the River Clyde’s shipyards. Janet played a crucial role in the UK’s war effort and was one of just a handful of women working as electricians alongside the 100,000-strong male workforce.
At the age of 96, Janet was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering from Glasgow Caledonian University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Glasgow’s shipyards during the war.
The Janet Harvey Hall is currently under construction at BAE Systems’ site in Govan. Naming the hall after Janet not only honours her contribution, but also the efforts of all the women who stepped up and became electricians, welders, engineers and platers when the call came, according to the company.
The hall is a key element of the £300m transformation of BAE Systems’ shipbuilding facilities in Glasgow. Once complete, this vast facility will be large enough for two Type 26 frigates to be constructed side-by-side. It will consist of more than 6,000 tonnes of steel and 20,000m3 of concrete. Once complete, the hall will help enable efficient and safe shipbuilding for decades to come with future work unaffected by adverse weather. With two 100-tonne cranes and two 20-tonne cranes, the facility is designed to accommodate up to 500 workers per shift.
