Across the UK’s engineering landscape, a troubling pattern continues to emerge. Women are entering engineering, excelling in education, building meaningful careers, and then, in growing numbers, leaving the profession entirely.

It is not a question of attraction, and there are excellent examples of initiatives that work to ensure that.  Last month, the University of Strathclyde’s annual “Engineering the Future for Girls” saw 100 young women from across Scotland undertaking engineering challenges over four days. 

In line with Strathclyde’s consistent approach to selection, widening access principles are applied to ensure the opportunity is open to all, and with four times as many applicants as there are places, there is clearly no shortage of demand.

Nor is it a question of capability, as measures show women are engaging with STEM pathways with determination and success. They are inspired early, navigate multiple routes through further and higher education, secure skilled employment, and contribute meaningfully across sectors from advanced manufacturing SMEs to multinational firms.

Women in STEM need to be regarded as the norm, not a novelty

Losses are not confined to a single corner of the industry, spanning small companies to major corporations, and public sector employers alike. It is visible across disciplines, roles, and career stages though most acute once women have invested years in building their professional identity.

The Engineering Council’s annual registration statistics highlight that although more women have been added to the register than in any other year, the average age of women who left the register was 44,........

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