New campaign promotes female engineers

A new campaign has been launched to increase the visibility of women in engineering and manufacturing, with a strong message from industry voices: “We don’t want to be seen as the exception, we want to be seen as the rule.”

The rallying call is central to In-Comm Training’s annual ‘I’m Included’ campaign, which begins today and aims to highlight women working across engineering by showcasing their roles, career journeys and lived experiences.

Backed by Enginuity and nine companies including Adams Enclosures, Assa Abloy, Filtermist, Industrial Physics, Jenks & Cattell, Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) and Safran, the initiative seeks to bring visibility to often overlooked stories within the sector.

Organisers say the campaign will celebrate achievements across all stages of an engineering career and demonstrate how inclusion can help drive innovation while also addressing skills shortages in the industry.

The campaign is also encouraging businesses, leaders, engineers, apprentices and wider stakeholders to share their own experiences through social media, video content and industry events.

“Women represent approximately 16.9% of the workforce in core engineering and technology jobs compared with 56% across all other occupations,” explained Bekki Phillips, Chief Operating Officer at In-Comm Training.

“This highlights ongoing underrepresentation, and we want to play our role in trying to change this.”

Phillips said a focus group of ten female role models helped shape the campaign by sharing personal stories, challenges and advice aimed at inspiring others.

“The overwhelming message is that we need to inspire others by proving that women in industry are the norm, highlighting all the hidden roles that are rarely seen and career journeys that are non-linear and heavily impacted by life phases, such as maternity and flexible working,” she added.

“It’s not just about inspiring individuals, we also need to inspire key stakeholders, such as teachers and parents, so they know all about our amazing sector and can openly promote it.”

A launch video created by Eleven10Creative has been released to support the campaign, following the journey of a young girl inspired by a Formula One car through to a leadership role in industry.

The video features Claire Umney of Alwayse Engineering, who now leads a manufacturing business after a career in logistics and supply chain roles.

“This is such an important conversation to have and I’m extremely proud to be supporting the ‘I’m Included’ campaign, empowered by In-Comm Training,” said Umney.

“We all have a role to play to inspire more women to consider a career in industry, whether they are just starting out, looking to change roles or those that are returning to work.”

She added that engineering needs greater visibility of diverse experiences and stronger advocacy across the workforce.

Further supporting content will include a series of personal videos from apprentices, engineers, project managers and graduates progressing through the sector.

Managing Director of Professional Polishing Services (PPS), Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, said the sector must normalise women in engineering rather than treating them as exceptions.

“There are so many fantastic women in engineering and manufacturing and we need to celebrate this as the ‘status quo’ and the norm if we are going to get even more girls interested,” she said.

“My message to women is simple… ‘engineering is built by people like you.’”