Let’s be honest, engineering hasn’t always been seen as a woman’s world. But that’s changing. And at Accura Engineering, we’re proud to be part of that shift.
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is more than a date in the calendar. Rather, it’s a chance to celebrate the women in engineering who shape our future and redefine the industry for the better. By celebrating women in engineering across our workforce, we’re also creating space for new voices and new ideas to lead the way.
This year’s theme, #TogetherWeEngineer, reminds us that progress happens when everyone has a seat at the table. Importantly, it highlights the need for unity, inclusion, and equal opportunity across the sector.
Admittedly, representation is improving. But women still remain under-represented in UK engineering. As of 2021, only 16.5% of engineers in the UK were women and in many specialist fields, that percentage drops even lower.
Clearly, INWED 2025 isn’t just a celebration, it’s a call to action. It challenges stereotypes, showcases real career pathways, and urges companies to build inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive.
At Accura, we stepped up to that challenge. As part of our transformation strategy, we set clear, ambitious goals and we delivered on them:
- We increased female representation in our workforce from 11% in 2021 to 20.1% in 2024.
- We closed our gender pay gap, cutting it from 29% to just 4%.
- We supported career development, helping 26% of our workforce move into expanded or promoted roles.
These aren’t just stats, they tell a story of growth, progress, and a culture that backs its people. Above all, they represent the impact of celebrating women in engineering not only one day a year, but every day in our workplace.
Meet The Women Driving Change at Accura
Undoubtedly, those numbers matter. However, it’s the people behind them who tell the real story.
Across our business, women are leading, problem-solving, mentoring, and building relationships that strengthen our future.
They’re shaping supply chains, driving quality improvements, and helping customers find the right solution in high-pressure environments.
Charlotte, Supply Chain Manager
When Charlotte joined, our supply chain function had potential but needed development. Over time, she didn’t just build a team. Instead, she transformed how we work with suppliers and helped us win back-to-back Made in Midlands Awards.
“Engineering thrives on problem-solving. And that requires diversity of thought. Women bring different experiences and perspectives, and that helps us develop better solutions. Diversity isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s essential.”
Charlotte has since embedded best practice across the business and strengthened supplier collaboration.
“When I started, supply chain wasn’t really seen as a value driver. Now, we’ve got mutual respect and collaboration with suppliers, and a team that’s fully embedded in our strategy.”
Tracey, Quality Manager
Tracey didn’t plan a career in engineering, but she grabbed the opportunity when it came. Initially starting with basic part checks, she soon fell in love with the power of quality to drive business-wide improvement. Later, she returned from a career break and worked her way up. Today, she leads the entire quality function at Accura.
“I started with inspections and checks. The more I learned about quality and continuous improvement, the more I loved it. Quality drives reputation, performance, and trust.”
“There’s still a perception that engineering is for men. Even now, job adverts use ‘he’ as the default—and that puts women off. We need to change that. Girls need to know there’s space for them in this industry.”
Olivia, Account Manager (Precision Machining)
Olivia sees engineering as a people-focused, problem-solving career. Previously, she worked in chemical distribution. However, she quickly found that the technical variety in engineering was a perfect fit.
“I love how technical this role is. There’s so much variety; every order, every customer is different. You learn something new every day.”
For Olivia, trust is everything.
“Strong relationships start with honesty. Especially in machining, where delays can happen, it’s about being upfront. When you keep people informed, they trust you more.”
And she’s thinking long-term:
“We need to bring more young people, and more young women, into engineering. These are vital skills that can’t disappear. We have to show what’s possible.”
Why Diversity in Engineering Matters
If the UK wants to stay ahead in advanced manufacturing, we can’t afford to limit the talent we bring into the industry. Expanding the engineering talent pool isn’t just a social imperative, it’s a strategic one.
In today’s world, the challenges we face demand a workforce that brings varied skills, fresh perspectives, and different lived experiences to the table.
That’s precisely why diversity matters.
We need to build inclusive engineering workplaces where everyone feels welcome, valued, and supported.
This includes rethinking how we recruit, develop, and retain talent from under-represented groups, including women. In particular, we must:
- Open clear career pathways for women
- Champion female role models across the sector
- Support apprenticeships for women, especially in technical roles
The evidence is clear: diverse teams perform better.
When people from different backgrounds work together, they solve problems more creatively, make better decisions, and deliver stronger outcomes. At Accura, we’ve seen the impact of this firsthand. Specifically, by creating space for new voices and different ways of thinking, we’ve:
- Expanded capacity in our Aerospace division by investing in automation and growing our internal talent base
- Improved supply chain transparency and collaboration through inclusive leadership and process innovation
- Strengthened customer relationships by putting empathy and proactivity at the heart of account management
- Reduced quality issues and rework by embedding continuous improvement practices driven by diverse thinking
Diversity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a business driver. Therefore, if we want to future-proof our industry, we need to ensure engineering is a career where everyone can belong, contribute, and succeed.
Inspiring The Next Generation
Engineering is no longer limited to oily overalls and factory floors. Today, it means working in high-tech, data-driven environments, collaborating in cross-functional teams, and solving some of the world’s most complex challenges.
When young people see modern engineering up close, they don’t just see a job, they see possibilities. Possibilities to travel the world, to lead projects, to innovate, to influence, and to grow.
“There’s a lot more to engineering than people realise. It can take you into global industries and the opportunities are endless.” – Tracey Ayton
In addition, we must continue to shift how we talk about engineering, both in schools and in society. Girls should see themselves represented in adverts, outreach programmes, and classrooms.
Moreover, they should hear real stories from women in the field and know that engineering isn’t just accessible, it’s exciting, dynamic, and rewarding.
“We need to challenge the stereotype. Engineering is for everyone who wants to solve problems, build things, and keep learning.” – Charlotte Fox
At Accura, we’re committed to that visibility. Whether it’s through our apprenticeship programmes, school partnerships, or leadership mentoring, we want young women to see a future they can step into with confidence. Because when they can see it, they can believe it and they can build it.
Celebrating Women in Engineering
International Women in Engineering Day 2025 gives us a moment to celebrate how far we’ve come.
At the same time, it reminds us there’s still more to do.
At Accura Engineering, we’ve already made real progress: we’ve closed our gender pay gap, increased female representation, and created clear pathways for people to grow and lead.
Now, we must build on that momentum.
If you’re a young woman considering a career in engineering, we want you to know there’s space for you here.
Likewise, if you’re a parent, teacher, or mentor, we encourage you to share these stories and help break down outdated perceptions.
And if you’re a business leader, we challenge you to think bigger about what an inclusive workplace can achieve, not just for your team, but for the future of the industry.
Let’s keep championing diversity. Let’s keep empowering women. And above all, let’s keep moving forward.
Because #TogetherWeEngineer a stronger, more inclusive future.
