Inspiring the next generation of women engineers

In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day, BCU played host to an inspiring two-day event that brought together young minds, industry leaders and passionate advocates for women in STEM.

Secondary school pupils from across the region were welcomed to the Millenium Point building for an engaging experience exploring the world of engineering.

Year 8 pupils got hands-on with an engineering challenge, working in teams to design and build floodproof housing and apply real-world problem-solving skills. The students with the winning designs, evaluated by a panel of experts, were awarded prizes for their innovative and effective ideas.

Interim Head of College for Engineering, Laura Leyland, also gave an address, and the girls got to meet some of BCU’s inspiring women engineering academics and students, as well as industry leaders.

Dean of Research, Enterprise and Engagement Professor Maxine Lintern said: “It was amazing to see so many enthusiastic, creative young women working in teams to come up with innovative solutions. The workshop experience gave them confidence that they did have the skills needed to be innovative, communicate their ideas and work collaboratively, and I hope the experience motivates many of them to consider applying for engineering, computer sciences and other STEM courses in the future, ideally with BCU. These are our future undergraduates, and I look forward to seeing more academics taking this fantastic opportunity to inspire and encourage these brilliant young women.

“I would like to thank Laura and our Engineering Technicians, Victoria Pell and Ishver Patel, and Engineering Interns Peter Rhodes and Malak Elmufty, for their brilliant work in bringing this event to life. Without them, it wouldn’t take place each year.”

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Laura added: “With only 16.5% of UK engineers currently women, this initiative is part of a broader movement to close the gender gap and empower the next generation of female engineers. The decline in female representation is most notable among women aged 35–64, suggesting that while more young women are entering the field, retention becomes a significant issue.

“It’s vital that young girls see engineering as a space where they belong. Events like this are about building confidence, inspiring ambition, and showing the next generation of women that there’s a place for them in shaping the future through engineering.”

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