Category : News

The 2025 Top 50 Women in Engineering Awards (WE50) celebrate the women engineers who are working together to improve lives through Engineering.

Engineering thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the power of diverse minds working together. The theme for the Top 50 Women in Engineering Awards 2025, Together We Engineer, celebrates the collective strength of engineers who unite across disciplines, challenge conventional boundaries, and drive progress through teamwork.

Whether enhancing projects through group efforts, integrating unique perspectives, or fostering connections that push engineering forward, this year’s awards recognise those who exemplify the spirit of collaboration in engineering.

Nominations close on the 25 March 2025 and the winners will be announced on International Women In Engineering Day on the 23 June 2025.

Further information can be found here

Essential Criteria – all nominees must satisfy these:

• A woman, aged 18 or older

• Based in the UK – nominees do not have to be UK citizens

• Not a previous WE50 winner

• Can demonstrate the creation or improvement of a product or process

Desirable Criteria:

• Acting as an advocate for other women in STEM

• Working or studying in engineering industries and allied sectors, engineering education, or engineering research

• Achieving beyond what would normally be expected for career stage – nominations welcome at all career stages

Entries that focus solely on engineering or solely on supporting women will not do as well as those that demonstrate both. We regret that we cannot include nominations for anyone based outside of the UK, even if they are UK citizens, with the exception of women serving the armed forces.

Nominate here!

Research by EngineeringUK and The Royal Society, published during National Careers Week (3 to 8 March), has found young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have a higher interest in technology careers than non-SEND pupils. 

The new additional analysis comes from the Science Education Tracker, a survey of 7,200 young people in years 7 to 13 of their experiences and attitudes towards STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) education and careers.  

The data highlights employment aspirations amongst students in state schools in England and found almost half (47%) of both SEND and non-SEND students are interested in a future career in engineering. 

But interestingly, more SEND students favoured a technology and computing career (43%) in contrast to non-SEND students (37%). 

Between now and 2030 engineering and technology jobs are expected to grow faster than other occupations.  Engineering jobs are expected to grow by a further 2.8% adding 173,000 net new jobs. EngineeringUK would like to see more opportunities open up for disabled young people, who are currently underrepresented, making up 14% of the engineering and technology workforce compared to 18% in other occupations.  

Becca Gooch, Head of Research at EngineeringUK, said, “The data throws up some positive findings and it’s great to see both SEND and non-SEND students as equally interested in a potential future engineering career.  It’s also fantastic to see so many SEND students with careers interest in tech where we need a vast talent pool. We must ensure our future engineering and technology workforce are not only well prepared for future roles but are made aware of opportunities and entry routes in to training and employment. 

“Engineering is such a broad sector offering so many diverse roles and opportunities for young people in the UK.”  

The data also showed when it came to maths careers, there was little difference between the 2 cohorts, with SEND students (35%) and non-SEND students (37%), but fewer SEND students favoured a future science career (39%) than non-SEND (48%). 

SEND students were less likely than non-SEND students to engage in science or STEM online via Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and online news or receive advice and guidance about careers from a range of different sources and undertake STEM work experience.  

The 2023 Science Education Tracker published in 2024, followed previous surveys in 2016 and 2019. The 2023 survey included questions, for the first time, specifically about engineering. EngineeringUK’s Head of Research, Becca Gooch, and David Montagu, Senior Policy Advisor from The Royal Society’s Education team will be presenting the CRESTEM keynote lecture ‘The Science Education Tracker: a tool for capturing young people’s perception at King’s College today (4 March). 

All SEND schools are included in EngineeringUK’s list of priority schools it engages with through its STEM programmes and resources like Neon to help drive change and improve wider diversity amongst underrepresented groups in the engineering and technology industry.  

Read the report

The Engineering Council and EngineeringUK are proud to support Chartered Week 2025, which takes place from 24 to 28 February 2025. This new national awareness week is dedicated to celebrating the positive contributions of Chartered practice, acknowledging the people, organisations and standards that are raising standards of competence and ethics across the engineering profession.

Chartered Week aims to:

• recognise the role of Chartered professionals in fostering public trust

• highlight the value of Chartered status in achieving excellence

• inspire others to pursue professional registration

Chartered status is a benchmark of excellence, ethics, and positive impact, recognising the achievements of professionals and organisations that inspire public trust. It builds confidence in engineering by assuring that engineers and technicians meet recognised standards of competence and commitment.

With this year’s theme of ‘Celebrating Trusted Professionals’, the week will focus on celebrating and promoting the importance of professional registration and its impact on society today, whether as a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng), or Engineering Technician (EngTech).

Developed by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, Chartered Week is an opportunity for the Chartered community (Chartered professionals, employers, awarding bodies and people aspiring to be Chartered) to collaborate across sectors, share experiences and best practices, and explore common challenges and goals.

Celebrating Chartered status showcases the profession and the value of standards and integrity. It highlights the importance engineering puts on knowledge and skills and professional conduct as well as consideration of the environment and public safety. These cornerstones of professional practice help build trust and inspire future generations.

Special events held throughout the week will highlight our talented community and the registration pathways available to you.

Chartered professionals can explore the toolkit for resources and ideas to celebrate #CharteredWeek on social media. Use the hashtags, digital badges, and content to share your journey to professional registration and inspire others to follow your professional path.

The Engineering Council and EngineeringUK invite everyone to connect with the broader professional engineering community, join the conversation and support this inaugural event.

If you’re not yet professionally registered, Chartered Week is the perfect time to explore the registration pathways open to you.

Further information and resources are available on the Chartered Week website.

The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair is taking place on Tuesday 17 to Thursday 19 June 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham

Benefits of volunteering with the Big Bang Programme

Collaboration

• Raise the profile of your organisation, industry, and sector
• Join a collective effort to inspire and inform thousands of young people about STEM careers
• Challenge stereotypes about STEM careers
• Engage, network, and collaborate with peers in the industry and pan sector

Experience

• A fun and rewarding opportunity to make a difference in young people’s lives
• Personal development opportunity
• As a role model, you’ll actively inspire and inform young people about the breadth of future career options available to them
• CPD – Volunteering at the Big Bang Fair can be classified as evidence of CPD, much in the same way that volunteers contribute to the profession through sitting on committees and panels.

Big Bang Fair

This is the UK’s biggest free STEM Fair, taking place annually at the NEC in Birmingham. We welcome c20,000 young people aged 10-13 and c3,000 of their teachers every year. More than 50 exhibitors across all parts of the STEM industry showcase their organisation to young people through interactive stands which help young people to better understand what a career in STEM looks like.  

Big Bang Competition

This is the UK’s largest and most established STEM Competition, with categories across Science, Technology and Engineering. Hundreds of young people enter every year (742 in 23/24), submitting projects which they have worked on as an individual or group. The awards ceremony for finalists is held at the Big Bang Fair. 

Register via the link below to volunteer at the Big Bang Fair and Big Bang Competition: Big Bang Fair 2025 – Engineering UK  

Big Bang at School

This programme brings the magic of the Big Bang Fair into the school environment. This is particularly impactful for schools who cannot attend the Fair, or for whom an in-school model works better for their engagement.  If you are interested in engaging with the Big Bang at School Programme, please drop a line to nadine@ied.org.uk and we’ll pass your details on to Engineering UK so that they can link you to a school.

You can find all Engineering UK volunteering opportunities here:  Volunteering with EngineeringUK.

The Engineering Council has just released its updated Guide to Professional Registration for 2024-2025, offering the latest guidance on how to achieve professional registration as an engineer or technician.

The comprehensive resource offers a clear guide for navigating the professional registration process including valuable insights for those aiming to attain this internationally recognised standard of professional competence and dedication.

Tailored to a diverse audience – including school leavers, careers advisors, STEM ambassadors, employers and HR professionals – the guide is an essential resource for anyone looking to develop engineering talent.

Having the necessary knowledge and skills is essential for working as an engineer or technician. Professional registration offers a structured framework to support career development, training, and continual improvement. This guide outlines the different pathways to achieving professional registration, whether through recognised qualifications, such as approved or accredited degrees, apprenticeships, work-based training or individual assessments.

The first step in the professional registration process is to join a Professional Engineering Institution (PEI) licensed by the Engineering Council or a Professional Affiliate (PA) with a registration agreement.

The revised publication covers:

• How the various engineering organisations work together
• What professional registration entails, including the different registration titles
• The benefits of professional registration for individuals, employers and society
• How to become professionally registered
• Detailed profiles of licensed professional engineering institutions and affiliates, outlining their specialisms, missions and the professional titles they offer
• Information on the Licensees now authorised to award professional Higher-Risk Building (HRB) registration – a new addition for this year

To download your free copy, visit the Engineering Council website.

EUK Education – a new brand from EngineeringUK – has launched to offer the teaching and careers community support and resources to inspire more young people to get into STEM and the many diverse career paths available.  

Engineering and technology employs 6.3 million people in the UK, accounting for 19% of all jobs, but the sector is facing a huge skills and labour shortage. More young people from all backgrounds are needed to create a diverse workforce and made aware of the wide range of STEM roles available and the many different routes into these careers. 

The new EUK Education site is a ‘one stop shop’ and brings together STEM programmes and best free STEM education and career resources previously hosted by charity, EngineeringUK. 

Head of Careers, Eleanor Eyre, commented “Teachers and career leaders are at the heart of everything we do. We know from our close work with schools and colleges the many challenges out there. We want to support you in the vital STEM work you do.” 

“We hope having all our fantastic free resources in one place from our flagship annual event, The Big Bang Fair, to our new Climate Schools Programme and careers and STEM resources will really help in your role of inspiring more young people into rewarding, interesting and lucrative STEM careers.” 

EUK Education offers:                                     

• Up-to-date information about careers in engineering and tech, how to get into them and what skills employers need.  
• Careers resources and activities to get young people thinking about a possible future in technology and engineering.  
• Free programmes to support teachers deliver engaging lessons that help embed curriculum content while showing how it links to real jobs. 
• Opportunities to meet and hear from inspiring people working in STEM jobs and the companies they work for.
• Funding to run STEM drop down days, access costed programmes and give students more opportunities.  
• Role models and inspiring professionals, school students can relate to.  
• Signposting to quality assured outreach activities, available online and in person.   
• EUK Education brings together everything EngineeringUK does for teachers, career leaders and young people – the engineering and tech professionals of the future.  

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week,  EUK’s annual celebration of engineering, science and tech, takes place once again between 11 to 15 November with the theme ‘Power up your passion’ showing young people engineering isn’t just hard hats and construction but about problem solving, innovation, creativity and making a difference in a wide range of careers. Linking young people to STEM employers, the week-long campaign features resources from ‘Day in the Life’ films on engineers to a panel where young people can chat to engineers about their work.   

EngineeringUK Chief Executive Dr Hilary Leevers said, “We hope having all our fantastic free resources and programmes like our new Climate Schools Programme, Energy Quest, and Tomorrow’s Engineers plus STEM resources and careers will really help the teaching and careers community – and ultimately the sector – in inspiring more young people into rewarding, interesting and lucrative STEM careers.” 

The Engineering Council would like to congratulate several distinguished registrants who have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng).

The registrants are part of a group of 71 influential figures in engineering and technology, recognised for their exceptional contributions to research, innovation, public service and promoting engineering in their respective fields.

This year’s new Fellows reflect RAEng’s Fellowship Fit for the Future initiative, which encourages nominations from underrepresented groups as RAEng approaches its 50th anniversary in 2026. The focus is on increasing diversity among women, disabled and LGBTQ+ engineers, minority ethnic backgrounds, non-traditional education paths and early-career excellence.

Dr John Lazar CBE FBCS FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:

“Our new Fellows represent some of the most talented people in the world of engineering and are taken from the ranks of those who are aiming to address some of our most critical problems. We are proud to say that many of our newly elected Fellows have come from underrepresented groups in engineering and related sectors and we hope this helps to tackle some of the issues around a lack of diversity within the profession. There is ample evidence that a wider pool of ideas and experiences helps to improve decision-making and develop novel solutions to global challenges.”

The list of the registrants elected as Fellows includes:

Fellows (FREng)

• Will Butler-Adams OBE CEng FRGS FCGI MIMechE FREng, Group CEO, Brompton Bicycle Ltd
• Professor Paul Beasley PhD CEng FIET FInstP FREng, Industrial Professor, University of Birmingham; Former Head of UK R&D, Siemens
• Jacqueline Castle CEng FIMechE FRAeS FREng, CTO Aerospace Technology Institute
• Professor Claire Davis CEng FIMMM FREng, Head of Advanced Steel Research Centre, WMG, University of Warwick
• Dr Vania De Stefani CEng MIChemE FREng, CEO, Oil Spill Response Ltd
• Professor Bruce Drinkwater CEng FIMechE FREng, Professor of Ultrasonics, School of Electrical, Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol
• Ila Glennie CEng FIMechE FREng, Vice President, Subsea, BP
• Professor Stephan Jefferis CEng FICE FREng, Director, Environmental Geotechnics Ltd
• Dr Xudong Jing CEng FEI FREng, Vice President, Subsurface Excellence, ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) Group
• Laura Jones CEng FIMMM FREng, Fellow in Advanced Materials, Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory)
• Professor Hussam Jouhara CEng FIEI FIMechE MCIBSE FREng, Professor of Thermal Engineering and Department Director for Research, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University
• EUR ING John Kell MBE CEng FWeldI FREng, R&D Specialist, Automotive Sector Team, Advanced Manufacturing Directorate (AMD), Department for Business and Trade
• Professor Markus Kraft CEng FIChemE FREng, Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge; Director, Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education (CARES)
• Professor Qiuhua Liang CEng FICE FREng, Professor of Water Engineering and UNESCO Chair in Informatics and Multi-hazard Risk Reduction, Loughborough University
• EUR ING Neil McArthur MBE CEng FIMechE FIET FREng, CEO and Founder, Freedom Fibre Ltd; Chair and Co-founder, Hamilton Davies Trust
• Sue Partridge CEng MRAeS FREng, Airbus Commercial Aircraft UK Country Manager
• Professor Andrew Randewich CEng FInstP FREng, Executive Director and CTO, AWE
• Dan Rodenhurst CEng MIMechE FIET FREng, Director General, UK Defence and Security IT, UK Government
• Professor Shahrokh Shahpar CEng FRAeS FAIAA FREng, Rolls-Royce Fellow, Senior Aerothermal Design Specialist, Rolls-Royce; Visiting Professor, Imperial College, Aerospace Engineering
• Professor Paul Shearing CEng MIChemE FREng, Director, The ZERO Institute; Statutory Professor – Chair in Sustainable Energy Engineering, University of Oxford; Chair in Emerging Battery Technologies, Royal Academy of Engineering
• Phillipa Slater CEng MICE FREng, Director of Asset Management and Operations Support, National Grid Electricity Distribution
• Nicholas Smallwood CEng MIMechE FREng, CEO, Infrastructure and Projects Authority
• Professor Eva Sorensen MBE CEng FIChemE FREng, Professor and Head of Department, Chemical Engineering, University College London
• Terry Spall CEng FIMechE FREng, Independent Engineering Consultant and Non-Executive Director
• Duncan Wanblad CEng FIMMM FREng, Chief Executive, Anglo American plc
• Professor Simon Weeks CEng FRAeS FREng, CEO, Simon Weeks Consultancy; Visiting Professor, University of Oxford and Loughborough University
• Professor Jennifer Wen CEng FIMechE FREng, Professor in Energy Resilience, University of Surrey
• Professor Xudong Zhao CEng MCIBSE FREng, Director, Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies, University of Hull

International Fellows (FREng)

• Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee CEng MCIWEM FREng, Professor of Practice, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India

The new Fellows will be formally inducted during a special ceremony in London on 27 November, when each Fellow will sign the roll book and support RAEng’s ongoing commitment to creating a sustainable society and inclusive economy through engineering.

Full profiles of 2024 new Fellows are available on the RAEng website.

Engineers Without Borders UK returns to Makers Valley, South Africa for the 2024/25 Engineering for People Design Challenge

18th September 2024: Engineers Without Borders UK, the organisation leading a movement to put global responsibility at the heart of engineering, has launched the 2024/25 cycle of the award-winning Engineering for People Design Challenge in partnership with Engineers Without Borders South Africa and Makers Valley Partnership.

Now entering its fourteenth year, the design challenge has reached over 87,000 students across 47 universities in five countries, and continues to grow its international reach. The 2024/25 challenge will be delivered to over 40 institutions in Ireland, South Africa, UK, and USA, with universities still able to sign up for this year’s programme.

This year’s challenge centres around Makers Valley, a cluster of vibrant yet economically disadvantaged suburbs on the eastern edge of Johannesburg. Home to around 46,000 residents, Makers Valley has experienced urban decay and high unemployment, but recent years have seen a wave of regeneration driven by social and creative enterprises. The design challenge invites students to develop engineering solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of this dynamic community.

Through a combination of design briefs, video interviews, and an interactive map, participants will engage directly with local residents, incorporating community insights into their projects. The top five submissions from each university will advance to the national stage, where they will be assessed by industry professionals. The most outstanding teams will then compete at the Grand Finals, where educational bursaries will be awarded for the Grand Prize, Runner-Up Prize, and People’s Prize.

Noluthando Mdayi, Co-CEO of Makers Valley Partnership, shared:

“We hope for a city that is safe and secure for all, where the voiceless are heard, where the environment is cared for, and where there are opportunities for thriving, not just surviving. [These] innovative ideas and engineering skills can make a lasting impact, helping to shape a future where everyone in Makers Valley can thrive.”

Tom Whitehead, Programme Manager at Engineers Without Borders UK, said:

“We are eager to see this design challenge continue to explore impactful solutions for communities and equip students with the critical skills they need to tackle global, real-world challenges.”

Universities interested in joining this year’s programme can still register. For more information on how to participate, visit www.engineering-for-people.org.

About Engineers Without Borders UK:

Engineers Without Borders UK is working to reach the tipping point to ensure a safe and just future for all. Part of a global movement of over 30 Engineers Without Borders organisations, we inspire, upskill and drive change in the engineering community and together take action to put global responsibility at the heart of engineering.

About Makers Valley Partnership:

Makers Valley Partnership (MVP) is a non-profit organisation established in 2018. Driven by the question, “What does a better community look like?”, MVP aims to support a well-being economy in the Makers Valley community through social and creative entrepreneurship. MVP envision a vibrant community with flourishing enterprises, and a clean, green, safe environment.

The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering is a global prize that celebrates the successes of modern engineering. With QEPrize winners selected from across the world, such an international prize requires a truly international trophy.

Every year, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering trophy is found through the ‘Create the Trophy’ competition. The competition gives young people aged 14-24 the opportunity to get involved, testing their design skills using the latest in 3D-design technology. The winner receives a high-end laptop, a model of their trophy, and the opportunity to see their 3D printed winning design presented to the winners of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering in London, UK. In addition, the winning trophy will also go on display in the Engineers gallery at the Science Museum, which showcases engineering innovations through the lens of the QEPrize.

The 2025 competition is now open and closes on 29 November 2024.

How to enter

CREATE your trophy using the free QEPrize 3D Design Studio app.

SHARE your design to social media after applying filters and effects in the photo studio.

SUBMIT your finished design to the Create the Trophy competition!

Click here to download the free QEPrize 3D Design Studio app on iOS or here on Android devices

With engineering and technology predicted to grow faster than any other sector between now and 2030, it is imperative the new government works with industry to address barriers standing in the way of young people joining the workforce. The skills shortage in engineering and technology is already limiting growth. A strategic approach to addressing the problem will support current projects and power large scale developments such as Great British Energy. 

EngineeringUK, along with the National Engineering Policy Centre, are keen to see a National Engineering and Technology Workforce Strategy. We therefore look forward to the new government acting on its manifesto commitments to develop workforce and training plans and a post-16 education strategy and ensure that more young people gain access to apprenticeships and other training opportunities.   

The Labour manifesto also pledged to tackle careers education, promising to recruit an extra thousand careers advisers, develop a broader curriculum, and address STEM teacher recruitment and retention. With severe and growing STEM teacher shortages – just over 1,600 vacancies compared to around 1,300 a year ago – EngineeringUK is urging the government to commit to investing in teacher professional development, which research shows is not just a ‘nice to have’ but can significantly prolong teaching careers.  

EngineeringUK Chief Executive, Hilary Leevers commented, “As the new government has rightly recognised, we need to nurture a greater pool of talent in engineering and technology including more apprenticeship opportunities for young people, to meet current demand and to help our economy to thrive and to achieve our net zero goal.  

“We have been asking for a national engineering and technology workforce strategy for some time to streamline coherent action and replace the current approach of different areas developing their own solutions in isolation, and sometimes, effectively, in competition.   

“In order to address skills shortages in the future, the workforce strategy needs to link to a comprehensive education and skills plan underpinned by enhanced careers advice in schools and an urgent solution to current STEM teacher shortages.  We will be doing what we can to support the new government in taking action to turbo charge the sector.” 

Find out more about EngineeringUK policy priorities for the new government.