International Women in Engineering Day 2026: Celebrating Progress
On 23 June, the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) once again celebrated the outstanding achievement of women across all engineering disciplines around the world with International Women in Engineering Day.
This annual event highlights the vital contribution women make to engineering while encouraging more people to explore the opportunities the profession offers. It is also a chance to recognise the significant progress that has been made across the industry and to inspire the next generation of engineering talent.
The chosen theme for 2026, #EngineeringIntelligence, focuses on the combination of technical expertise, innovation and human insight needed to solve the challenges of the future.
#INWED26 |. Brought to you by the Women’s Engineering Society | www.inwed.org.uk
For us at Construction Professional HR & Recruitment, INWED is not simply about recognising where the industry still needs to improve. It is also about celebrating how far engineering has come.
"There is still a long way to go, but it's equally important to recognise how far we've come. The industry today looks very different from a decade ago. More women are choosing engineering careers, more organisations are actively investing in inclusion, and more female leaders are helping inspire the next generation. That's progress worth celebrating."
– Dee Airey, MD & Founder at CPR
As a recruitment and training business operating within the professional construction sector, we see first-hand the critical role engineers play across the industry.
Engineering is the backbone of construction, bridging the gap between innovative design and practical execution. Every railway upgrade, housing development, flood defence system, data centre, transport hub and renewable energy project relies on engineers to transform ideas into reality.
Today, more women than ever are contributing to these projects, bringing fresh perspectives, expertise and leadership to some of the UK's most ambitious developments.
A profession evolving for the future
EngineeringUK data shows women now account for 17% of the UK's engineering and technology workforce. While there is more progress to be made, the figure has increased significantly over recent years and reflects a growing number of women choosing careers in engineering and technology.
That momentum is important not only for engineering itself but also for the wider construction sector.
The projects shaping our future communities, infrastructure and environment benefit from a diverse range of experiences, perspectives and approaches to problem-solving. As the industry continues to evolve, attracting talent from the widest possible pool has become both a commercial necessity and a competitive advantage.
International Women in Engineering Day therefore provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of female engineers while continuing to build on the positive progress already underway.
Broadening opportunities for future engineers
Encouragingly, perceptions of engineering careers are changing.
Construction engineering is increasingly recognised for what it truly is: a highly technical, innovative and creative profession that combines problem-solving, collaboration and real-world impact. Across schools, colleges and universities, more organisations are actively engaging with young people to showcase the breadth of opportunities available.
There remains an opportunity to further increase awareness and participation. EngineeringUK reports that girls currently account for 17% of engineering apprenticeship starts in the UK, highlighting the potential to encourage even more young women to consider engineering pathways.
At the same time, employers across the industry are investing in initiatives designed to support long-term career development.
Flexible working, inclusive leadership programmes, mentoring schemes and improved progression pathways are helping to create environments where talented professionals can build rewarding and sustainable careers. While there is always more work to do, the direction of travel is encouraging.
Visibility creates possibility
One of the most powerful drivers of progress is visibility.
Today, young women can increasingly see female engineers leading major infrastructure programmes, driving sustainability strategies, managing multidisciplinary design teams and shaping the future of the built environment.
Every visible role model helps broaden perceptions of what engineering careers can look like.
That visibility matters because engineering within construction is ultimately about impact. It is about creating places, systems and infrastructure that improve lives and support future generations.
The more young people can see themselves reflected in those roles, the more likely they are to believe those careers are open to them.
Building on progress
The UK construction and infrastructure sector continues to face significant skills demands as investment accelerates across energy, transport, defence, housing and environmental projects.
Meeting those challenges will require attracting, developing and retaining the very best talent available.
The good news is that the industry is already making progress. More women are entering engineering careers, more organisations are championing inclusion, and more female leaders are helping shape the future of construction and infrastructure.
International Women in Engineering Day 2026 is therefore a celebration of achievement, progress and possibility.
It recognises the women already making an extraordinary impact across engineering and construction while inspiring the next generation to follow.
There is still work to do, but there is also much to celebrate. The industry is moving in the right direction, and every step forward creates new opportunities for the engineers who will help build the future.