About the event
INWED is about promoting the work that women engineers do all over the world, to encourage more women to consider taking up engineering as a career. Women continue to be under-represented in engineering jobs, with 2025 figures showing that in the UK only 16.9%1 of engineers are women.
At C+K, we are using INWED to look at some facts and figures about working in engineering. We'll also find out what it's really like to work as an engineer. And this information is useful for everyone - not just women.
But, before we start, what exactly is engineering? To find out more, click on the image below to watch this 'This is Engineering' video on YouTube.
How many women work in engineering in the UK?
Traditionally, a lot more men have worked in engineering than women. And this is still the case today. Only 17% of the engineering and technology workforce are women, compared with 56% in other jobs.1
And when it comes to apprenticeships, in 2024/25 in England, 4,900 women started an engineering and manufacturing technologies apprenticeship, compared with just over 41,000 men.2
In higher education, 26,715 women were enrolled on engineering and technology undergraduate courses in the UK in 2024/25, compared with 105,080 men. The percentage of women enrolled on engineering and technology undergraduate courses in the UK has shown a slight increase over the past ten years from 14.5% in 2015 to 20.2% in 2025.3
The smaller number of women working in engineering is a problem. This is because as a country we need more skilled engineers. The demand for engineers far outweighs supply, and companies are struggling to fill roles. We are undertaking lots of projects that need engineers, from upgrading the railways and updating the water infrastructure and energy grid, to developing and implementing greener technologies.
How do you get an engineering job?
There are different routes into engineering careers. For example, in the videos below you'll hear from people who did an apprenticeship to become an engineer and also from those who went to university.
For engineering apprenticeships, entry requirements vary depending on the level of the apprenticeship. For apprenticeships at level 3 (equivalent to A levels) you usually need some GCSEs at grades 9-4, including maths and English. For apprenticeships at a higher level, you are likely to need some level 3 qualifications such as a BTEC, T level or A levels. See www.apprenticeships.gov.uk for more information and vacancies.
To study engineering at university, you often need to have studied maths or physics at A level - sometimes both. However, university entry requirements vary between different courses and different institutions. Check course information at www.ucas.com
Getting into engineering is not just about the qualifications you have, it's also about having the skills that employers are looking for.
One of the most important skills needed to work in engineering is problem-solving. Other important skills include:
- Analytical thinking skills
- Having good attention to detail
- The ability to use your initiative
- Maths knowledge and skills
- Persistence and determination to find the solution to a problem
Think about the things you can do at school, college or in your spare time to help you develop these skills. You will need examples of how you use these skills when applying for jobs and apprenticeships. The National Careers Service website has ideas on how to develop some of the key skills employers are looking for.
Why study engineering?
As we have seen, if you study engineering, the chances are you are likely to get a job.
The latest data shows that university graduates who have degrees in a TEM (Technology, Engineering, Maths) subject are more likely to be in full-time employment than graduates from other subjects. The full-time employment rate for all graduates was 56.4%. However, the full-time employment rate for civil engineering graduates was 76.8%, and for electrical and electronic engineering graduates, 70.9%.4
Not only this, but graduates who have studied technology and engineering subjects are more likely to enter graduate-level jobs that are related to the degree they studied. For other subjects, although you might be employed full-time, you might start off doing a job at a lower level and unrelated to the qualifications you have.
What is working in engineering really like?
To hear from three engineers, click on the images below to watch these 'This is Engineering' videos on YouTube.
Charlotte is an apprentice mechanical engineer working in fusion energy
Eneni is a robotics engineer
Lucy is a product designer
You can read about and hear from more engineers here.
More information
To find out more about how to become an engineer and what being an engineer involves, look at www.theiet.org/career/routes-to-engineering and www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/engineering-and-manufacturing
If you are interested in having a go at some engineering challenges at home, check out https://education.theiet.org/secondary/secondary-experiments-and-activity-packs
For more information about International Women in Engineering Day, go to www.inwed.org.uk
Teachers
For teachers, a number of organisations have produced ideas for classroom-based engineering-related activities which also include lesson plans. Examples include:
https://neonfutures.org.uk/get-started
https://tryengineering.org/teachers/lesson-plans
www.jamesdysonfoundation.co.uk/resources.html
https://education.theiet.org/secondary/stem-activities
www.ice.org.uk/your-career/education-resources/teaching-resources
www.inwed.org.uk/resources-2025/resources-for-education
Sources
1. www.engineeringuk.com/research-and-insights/our-research-and-evaluation-reports/women-in-engineering-and-tech-infographic-dashboard/
2. https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships/2024-25/explore#featured-tables-section
3. www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/what-study
4. https://graduatemarkettrends.cdn.prismic.io/graduatemarkettrends/aSRpF2GnmrmGqMHq_what-do-graduates-do-2025-26.pdf
