Women In Engineering

Diversity and inclusion

Without question, we support diversity and inclusion within the engineering sector. Engineering offers incredible career opportunities, and we believe it should be accessible to all equally.

Sharing

The engineering sector can only benefit from broadening its appeal and attracting the best people, which it would otherwise lose to other sectors. Through teaching as well as public speaking, we seek to share information and advice on what an engineering career can lead to and how to get into it.

Mentoring

As well as finding your feet as an engineering student we offer mentoring and coaching to help people returning after a career break. Typically, this is helping women with children getting back into work with returnships, but we help men as well.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” Antje Budge said when she returned to work for Balfour Beatty

Antje was inspired to return to work after Abigail highlighted how much easier it would be to do returnships rather than training new engineers from scratch to an audience at the Association for Civil Engineering Departments (ACED) for their annual conference held at the Institution of Structural Engineers.

Signposting

Often the issue for women is what they don’t know where to turn to, so we signpost people to key services which can help them take the next steps towards fulfilling their ambitions.

Providing support

We will help with specific advice and direction for people at work and in the workplace and finding work placements.

Contribution

Abigail Kiernan decided to help women in engineering as her own career began to take off. Below are a few examples of how she has helped change perceptions in engineering.

Supervision

For young women, Abigail can act as Supervising Civil Engineer (SCE), provide mentoring services for Professional Reviews and support through all routes to ICE membership.

Early introduction

To appeal to women and children while they consider their futures, we support girls in schools and women at universities who are studying Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM). With Abigail Kiernan setting a real-life example, we aim to inform and inspire young women from all backgrounds to pursue engineering if they wish.

As a STEM/ ICE Ambassador for over 20 years, Abigail has been involved in numerous projects:

Involved in a mathematics project for the design, build, operation and maintenance of approach roads to a model cable-stayed bridge.
Helped deliver the Crest Award programme to Year 5 and Year 6 primary school students to gain their Crest Discovery Awards.
Spoke at ACED annual meeting 2015 on how to recruit more women into civil engineering
Invited to present at the Association of Civil Engineering Departments Annual Conference
Asked to lead on various procedural change initiatives for the national ICE Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Group
Asked to lead the North West Diversity Group
Delivered a “Diversity in Engineering” Lecture in line with MSGN34 for the G&S Committee to university students and recent graduates

Delivered in 2012 an Olympic Park presentation to Key Stage 1 pupils during a “show and tell” session.
Involved in the Create Sport Challenge.
ICE Chairman Cheshire Branch (2013-14, Education Officer 2014-present), delivering CPD
ICE NW E&D Group (2014-present) delivering fairness, inclusion and respect agenda locally for national group
Lesson provision for an Engineering Law programme for an Engineering Diploma
Manchester Gold (University of Manchester) – Runs student-led mentoring sessions for civil engineering students to employment. Abigail provides one-on-one advice and guidance.

Safe & Efficient