The engineering industry continues to face a gender imbalance, with women comprising only 15.7% of the engineering and technology workforce in the UK as of 2023, a decrease from 16.5% in 2022. This decline is particularly notable among women aged 35 to 44, suggesting challenges in retaining female professionals within our sector. Addressing this gap requires collaboration across education, industry and policy to attract, retain and support women throughout their careers.

At Lanes Group, we’re committed to supporting women across our operations, including its drainage engineering roles. In this article, we will explore the challenges faced by women in engineering and highlight actionable steps, including examples of how we are helping to build a more inclusive industry.

Understanding the gender gap in engineering

The engineering gender gap stems from long-standing societal and institutional barriers. These include:

• Gender stereotyping that discourages girls from pursuing STEM subjects at a young age.
• Limited visibility of female role models in engineering, which reinforces the message that this is a ‘male only’ profession.
• Workplace cultures that may not accommodate the personal and professional needs of women, such as flexible working arrangements or support systems.

For many women, these challenges create hurdles when considering engineering as a viable career path. Addressing these issues requires targeted efforts from businesses, educational institutions and professional bodies.

How our industry can support women in engineering

To create a more inclusive engineering industry, organisations need to take active steps to attract, support and retain women in roles traditionally dominated by men. By addressing the challenges women face in the workplace, we can create an environment where women feel empowered to pursue meaningful careers in the engineering, drainage and utilities sector. These steps include:

 

• Flexible working arrangements: offering flexible shift patterns, such as four-on, four-off schedules, alongside roles with traditional working hours, allows women to choose work schedules that align with their personal commitments.
• Comprehensive training opportunities: providing extensive training and development programmes helps women build their skills over time, regardless of their starting experience or background.
• Focus on career stability: prioritising long-term career development over short-term contracts offers women stability and opportunities for progression.
• Fair pay and benefits: ensuring female staff are competitively remunerated, with salaries aligned to responsibility and experience, alongside additional benefits, such as healthcare support, helps create equitable workplaces.
• Supportive working environments: creating a friendly, inclusive workplace culture with a focus on mental health, wellbeing and team cohesion makes sure all employees feel valued and supported.
• Representation in senior roles: promoting women into leadership positions provides visible role models and advocates for change, and shows women entering our sector that they can rise to the highest levels.

At Lanes, we’re not just talking about inclusion – we’re stepping up to make it happen. From flexible working options that fit around personal commitments to training programmes that help women thrive no matter their starting experience, we’re building a workplace where women can succeed. We prioritise long-term career development, offer competitive pay and benefits, and encourage a culture where mental health, wellbeing and team support are at the forefront.

With experienced women in senior positions across our teams, we’re showing what’s possible and inspiring the next generation of female engineers. By creating opportunities, breaking barriers and leading by example, we’re shaping a more inclusive future for the drainage and engineering industry – and we’re just getting started.

Broader industry efforts to encourage women

While we are making progress, wider collaboration across the engineering industry is essential. Initiatives such as the Women’s Engineering Society and International Women in Engineering Day play a big role in advocating for diversity and inspiring women to enter the profession.

Key actions for the engineering industry include:

• Promoting STEM education: schools and universities must engage young girls by showcasing the potential of STEM careers and providing pathways into the engineering industry.
• Highlighting female leaders: increasing the visibility of successful female engineers can inspire young girls and demonstrate that women can excel alongside their male counterparts.
• Providing financial support: scholarships and apprenticeships for female students can help reduce barriers and open doors to careers in engineering.
• Creating inclusive workplaces: companies must make sure women feel valued and supported with policies that meet their personal and career development needs.
• Fostering partnerships: collaboration between businesses, professional bodies and educational institutions can strengthen efforts to attract women into engineering roles.

Building the next generation of women engineers

The future of engineering depends on empowering women to see the profession as one where they can thrive and make an impact. Inspiring the next generation starts by showing girls and young women that engineering is not only a viable career path but one where they can achieve personal and professional fulfilment.

At Lanes, we’re not just committed to hiring more women; we’re dedicated to creating a workplace where they can build meaningful careers, break barriers and succeed as equals. By investing in initiatives that help women develop their skills, grow their confidence and aspire to leadership roles, we aim to contribute to a stronger and more inclusive drainage and engineering profession.

Get in touch

At Lanes, we’re passionate about creating opportunities for women to thrive in engineering. Through flexible working arrangements, comprehensive training and supportive workplace policies, we help women get what they need to succeed.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your engineering career or want to learn more about how we support women in the workplace, visit our careers page. Together, we can shape a more inclusive future for the engineering profession.

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