Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day 2026: Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Engineering
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
Today, the NC Group team joins the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) in celebrating International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), recognising the achievements of women engineers and highlighting the importance of creating a more inclusive future for the engineering and manufacturing industries.
This year’s theme, Engineering Intelligence, celebrates the skills, innovation, creativity, and problem-solving that engineers bring to the world around us.
The Future of Engineering Needs More Diverse Talent
While progress is being made, women remain significantly underrepresented across engineering.
Latest figures show that women make up just 16.9% of engineers in the UK, highlighting the continued need to inspire and support more women and girls to consider careers in engineering, manufacturing, and technical industries.
The challenge starts early. Women remain underrepresented in engineering education, STEM subjects, and technical career pathways, meaning fewer women are progressing into engineering roles.
At the same time, employers across the manufacturing and engineering sectors continue to face skills shortages. Encouraging more people, including women and girls, to explore engineering apprenticeships and technical careers is essential to developing the skilled workforce needed for the future.
Creating Pathways into Engineering Careers
Across the UK, employers, education providers, and organisations are working to improve access to engineering careers through STEM engagement, apprenticeships, technical education, and industry-led skills development.
Initiatives led by organisations such as the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), WISE, and EngineeringUK continue to highlight the importance of visible role models, inclusive workplaces, and early engagement with young people.
Engineering is no longer just about traditional technical roles; it is a sector driven by innovation, digital transformation, sustainability, automation, and problem-solving. There are opportunities for people with a wide range of skills and backgrounds.
NC Group and Women in Engineering
At NC Group, we see this challenge first-hand across our engineering apprenticeships, manufacturing training programmes, and technical skills development.
As an Ofsted Outstanding training provider, we work with learners and employers to create opportunities that support long-term careers within engineering and manufacturing.
We are committed to helping break down barriers by:
Engaging with schools and colleges across the region to showcase opportunities within engineering, manufacturing, and STEM careers
Promoting engineering apprenticeships and career pathways that provide routes into technical roles
Encouraging more women to access engineering training and skills development programmes
Supporting employers to build diverse, skilled, and future-ready workforces
Through our work with apprentices, employers, and industry partners, we aim to challenge perceptions around engineering careers and show the next generation that engineering is a career where they can thrive.
How Employers Can Help Create Change
Employers play a vital role in attracting and retaining more women within engineering and manufacturing.
Small changes can make a big difference, including:
Sharing real stories from women working in engineering roles
Offering work experience, mentoring, and industry engagement opportunities for young people
Promoting engineering apprenticeships as a pathway for a diverse range of talent
Creating inclusive workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to develop and progress
By working together, employers, educators, and training providers can help ensure the engineering workforce of the future reflects the communities it serves.
If your school, college, or organisation would like to organise a meeting or presentation for students about engineering apprenticeships, manufacturing careers, and technical pathways, contact us at 01388 737121 or email training@ncgroupltd.co.uk.
