The landscape of engineering is changing. Not only are we seeing an
increase in the use of technology, innovation, and sustainability in the
industry, but we are also seeing more women entering the field.
Despite the progress made toward gender equality over the last few years,
and an increase in the number of women entering engineering, there is still
work to be done. We need to make the discipline more appealing and by doing
so, it will filter through to the wider industry, enabling a truly
inclusive, open, and equal culture.
At AtkinsRéalis , and our brands Atkins, Faithful+Gould, and Acuity,
equality, diversity and inclusion
(ED&I) are not just buzzwords; we are committed to creating and
maintaining an inclusive culture where everyone can be their true self. We
aren’t perfect, but we’re devoted to developing the diversity of our teams,
promoting an inclusive culture, and providing everyone with an equal voice.
Our aims for the coming years are to remove all barriers, to embed ED&I
into our culture just as Health & Safety and integrity are, to ensure
all staff are confident in raising ED&I issues, and to be a respected
voice both inside and outside of our sector to accelerate change.
Striving for gender diversity in engineering
Women represent half of the world’s population, bringing a diversity of
thought and innovative solutions to complex challenges in all industries
and aspects of life. Yet in engineering, women are significantly
underrepresented. Analysis from
EngineeringUK
shows that only 14.5% of those working in engineering roles are female.
Whilst it is encouraging to see an increase from the 12% reported in 2018,
we still need to tap into the talent that women offer, and as an industry,
work harder to strive for true equality.
At Atkins in India, Sindhu, Sarika, and Manisha are
paving a way for our future women engineers. Sindhu says that early in her career, she missed out on opportunities for
certain assignments with other companies because men were chosen over
women. However, she says that as times have changed, there is a wider
acknowledgement of the talent and skills that women bring to the
discipline. The industry certainly is overcoming stereotypical challenges,
and it is encouraging to see these women inspiring the next generation.
More women in engineering will mean more role models for future
generations.
How is the industry changing?
Engineering benefits everyone, it is a stimulating career choice that
provides enormous societal value, so it is, therefore, crucial that it
reflects the diverse societies it serves. Society is evolving, and we are
seeing shifts to many age-old traditions and stereotypes. For instance,
historically men have received less paternity leave after the birth of a
child, making it difficult for many women to return to work sooner.
However, this is changing, and companies are becoming more accommodating to
family life, particularly in the wake of the pandemic after it was
recognised that it is possible to balance both work and family life
efficiently.
Saudi Arabia has long been known for its gender imbalance, particularly
within construction. However, the country is experiencing a
socio-economic transformation
led by Saudi Vision 2030 which is shaping the country’s workforce. His
Royal Highness Prince Mohammad bin Salman was eager to encourage more women
to pursue employment, spurring significant policy changes. Canada,
conversely, is a country that is known to be vastly multicultural and
diverse, yet it is taking even more steps to
engineer a more diverse workplace
by launching a new package of measures designed to establish a ‘culture of
inclusiveness that will address systemic barriers in the public sector,
including recruitment and mentoring schemes’.
At AtkinsRéalis , women are empowered to succeed and lead change in the
industry.
Tiffany, for example, is the Associate Director for Tunnels and Ground Engineering
at Atkins in Hong Kong and a mother of two. The industry has certainly come
a long way since she was a graduate engineer, as she says back then
contractors believed that if women entered tunnels before break-through,
they would bring bad luck. Thankfully times have changed, and she says that
the key to her success has been to fully equip herself with skills, always
staying one step ahead of her peers.
How can we encourage more women to pursue engineering?
The benefits that women bring to the industry are endless. By demonstrating
how attractive the discipline is, the value it brings to society, and how
inclusive and accommodating it can be for all people, more women will be
inspired to engage in engineering.
Finty
pursued engineering because she always enjoyed maths and mechanical maths,
so for her, it made sense to join the world of engineering, but when hearing
that women were underrepresented, it urged her on even more.
One of the biggest crises threatening the world today is climate change and
mitigating its damages by implementing more sustainable initiatives in the
built environment. The
World Economic Forum
state that building a more sustainable world will require more women
engineers. We agree, so we’re taking steps to ensure women are given equal
opportunities as both diversity and inclusion, and sustainable development
for the future are fundamental to us. Ensuring that everyone feels
encouraged to share their ideas isn't just the right thing to do, we
believe it drives innovation and improvement.
Engineer a sustainable future at AtkinsRéalis where equality really matters
At AtkinsRéalis , we truly care about creating a workplace where everyone
feels included. It doesn't start and end with gender diversity. To truly encourage diversity and inclusion in engineering, we need to look at creating opportunities for people with a disability, people from underrepresented cultures, and the LGBT+ community. We believe that people from all backgrounds have something unique to offer, so we make
sure that everyone has an equal voice. We are committed to respecting and
empowering our people and creating an environment where everyone is
encouraged to contribute.
If you are looking for a challenging but rewarding career within an
inclusive company, browse our
civil engineering jobs
today and help us make positive changes in the world.
