International Women in Engineering Day highlights the incredible achievements and contributions of women in the field of engineering and underscores the need for continued progress in achieving gender equity.
INWED gives women engineers around the world a profile when they are still hugely under-represented, with figures indicating that in the UK only 16.5% of engineers are women. As the only platform of its kind, it plays a vital role in encouraging more young women and girls to take up engineering careers.
At Walsh, we take great pride in maintaining an above-average ratio of women to men within our team. This accomplishment reflects our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives and talents can thrive.
We recognise that diversity in engineering leads to more innovative solutions and better outcomes for our projects and clients. Therefore, we are keenly focused on attracting and retaining more women, including those who identify as female, to join our ranks.
By embracing INWED, and not just for the day itself, we reaffirm our dedication to breaking down barriers and creating pathways for women to excel in engineering. By driving and supporting efforts that promote gender diversity and inclusion in engineering and all STEM fields, together, we can build a stronger, more equitable future for all.
INTERNAL CELEBRATIONS: SOCIAL IMPACT AND CREATIVITY
Afternoon Tea: our celebrations kicked off with cakes from Luminary Bakery, a social enterprise based in London that provides training, employment, and community support to some of the most disadvantaged women in the city.
This initiative not only sweetened our celebration but also supported a very worthy cause.
The Great Walsh Bake-off: talented Walsh bakers showcased their cake making skills and innovative approaches to design and structure, aligning with this year’s INWED theme, Enhanced by Engineering.
LEADING FEMALE INDUSTRY VOICES: DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DIVERSITY AND EQUITY
Yvonne Ainsworth of Taylor Woodrow: delivered an insightful internal presentation that shed light on both the challenges faced and triumphs achieved in the industry.
Recognised as one of the Top 20 Women in Ground Engineering, Yvonne shared her professional achievements and personal experiences of balancing a demanding career in engineering with motherhood.
She discussed how early in her career, she faced a pivotal moment when she was told that “no one liked her.” Realising her responsibility to adapt her communication style in order to develop as a leader, she emphasised that effective leadership requires self-awareness. Her story served as a powerful reminder of the contributions women make to our industry and the importance of resilience, change, and teamwork in overcoming challenges.
Katherine Evans is as Bold as Brass: our staff, clients and friends joined us to hear Katherine Evans, the founder of Bold as Brass, share her unique experiences and insights on the contrasting attitudes toward safety and career journeys between men and women in her field.
A lively and eye-opening discussion about the challenges women face and the solutions proposed showcased the critical need to promote change, evolution and allyship and why we need to give “good girl” the heave-ho!
What others said about Katherine’s presentation:
“Had a brilliant and enlightening evening yesterday at Walsh offices. It’s really positive to see breakthroughs in the construction industry and hear it from like minded individuals.
It can sometimes be lost on us the barriers to entry that women faced in this industry. It ranged from not having women’s safety shoes being available, no sanitary equipment, to women’s toilets being locked and many other intriguing stories I heard. Some wonderful people have taken it upon themselves to solve these many issues and create a welcoming environment for us all”Dhwani Vekaria, Architect, Sheppard Robson
“Fantastic talk hosted by Walsh from Katherine Evans aka “Bold as Brass”. Main takeaway? Allies! In order to make this industry more progressive in every way to tap into and keep talent, the decision makers have to better understand the things that make a difference and help people reach their potential….and that can be a simple providing a pair of trousers!!!”
Emma Shakespeare, Senior Design Manager, Sir Robert McAlpine
GOING FORWARD
Beyond these activities, we know there is still much work to be done in prioritising equality, diversity, and inclusion. It is essential that we all strive for continuous improvement, ensuring that our values and teams truly reflect the communities we serve.
We’d love to hear about how you are navigating your journey.
