women in engineering Q&A: ford.
Discover inspiring insights from six women at Ford Motor Company as they share their journeys in engineering. From apprentices to managers, learn what ignited their passion for the field, how they challenge stereotypes, their proudest accomplishments, and advice for the next generation. Their collective experiences illuminate the rewarding, evolving, and inclusive nature of engineering, underscoring the vital role of diverse perspectives in shaping our future.
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Claire Circus
Engineering Manager, Ford Motor Co. Ltd.
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What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and what would you say to young girls who might not see it as a typical path for women?
I loved physics at school but wanted a practical application. Engineering was the perfect answer.
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What’s one myth or stereotype about women in engineering that you'd love to challenge?
We need to work harder to get where we want to. I think we need to work EQUALLY hard.
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What has been your proudest moment or achievement in your engineering career so far?
Launching a vehicle in Sydney, Australia. I had been involved in the design, development and production of the vehicle and launching the vehicle was the pinnacle of many years of work.
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How has your career in engineering allowed you to grow — in terms of experience, progression, and personal development?
In so many ways, I have grown in confidence as my knowledge has increased. I believe I have added some value to the world.
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What advice would you give to the next generation of women considering a career in engineering?
If you want to do something, you can do it....just put your mind and effort into it and you will achieve it!
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Why do you believe engineering is a rewarding and exciting field for women to be part of, both now and in the future?
The world is evolving so quickly and our voices matter!
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Abbie Pearce
Prototype Technician Apprentice, Ford Motor Company
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What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and what would you say to young girls who might not see it as a typical path for women?
At school I was always a kinetic learner, so creating stuff always helped me remember information. It’s until I took part in the Higher Apprenticeship Challenge when I was in school that I realised that I wanted to pursue a career in Engineering. I would say to the younger generation of girls is to just go for it. As times progress, there’s more women in Engineering and stem careers.
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What’s one myth or stereotype about women in engineering that you'd love to challenge?
To be an Engineer, you have to get your hands dirty (literally). Not every department in engineering is hands on, dirty work. There’s a lot of intellectual theory behind it all, alongside the physical learning.
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What has been your proudest moment or achievement in your engineering career so far?
Completing my 4 year apprenticeship. It has been an excellent learning experience, getting to visit different engineering departments and how different places operate.
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How has your career in engineering allowed you to grow — in terms of experience, progression, and personal development?
I never thought I could complete certain tasks, but after fellow colleagues mentoring me, I can confidently say that I can complete jobs on my own and know the theory behind it all. This learning helped with my personal development too.
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What advice would you give to the next generation of women considering a career in engineering?
Be authentic and proactive within the industry, but mainly challenge the stereotypes and thrive professionally.
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Why do you believe engineering is a rewarding and exciting field for women to be part of, both now and in the future?
It’s rewarding because you’re a part of a team that solves real-world problems. It’s constantly evolving and by integrating women’s opinions brings in a diverse perspective which results in better solutions.
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Who has been your engineering role model or someone who has really helped or inspired you in your career, and why?
My grandad was an engineer and I really valued his intellect when growing up because the topic of cars was how we bonded which lead me to where I am today.
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Holly Liggitt
Degree Engineering Apprentice, Ford Motor Company
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What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and what would you say to young girls who might not see it as a typical path for women?
I have always loved maths and wanted to go into a career where I can apply logical thinking skills and work somewhere where I can make a difference. When I was looking into university courses and apprenticeships, engineering piqued my interest as it combines both logical thinking skills and creativity. I'd say that engineering, like many industries, shouldn't be considered a gendered discipline, as there are no skills which women can't achieve as well as men. Young women shouldn't feel put off by the fact that engineering is currently a male dominated industry, because if they have the skills to fit the role, then anyone can become an engineer - regardless of gender.
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What has been your proudest moment or achievement in your engineering career so far?
I often volunteer to give talks at secondary schools to promote apprenticeships and working in engineering. I like to think I have taught these students something new and convinced a few people to pursue a career in this field. This is important to me, as I found out about the degree apprenticeship at Ford through previous apprentices giving a talk at my old school. This shows how important sharing information and stories is to promoting women in engineering.
Earlier this year, I spoke at SMMT's International Women's Day event and was able to share my experiences on a panel in front of a live crowd. This was a huge moment for me and a brilliant opportunity to hear about other's stories from working in STEM as well as sharing my own. I never would have been able to attend this sort of event had there not been support from both the company and my colleagues about promoting women in engineering. In the future, I would love to attend more events like these as it was great to speak to people from a variety of backgrounds and gain their insights and their thoughts on women in STEM.
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How has your career in engineering allowed you to grow — in terms of experience, progression, and personal development?
Working at Ford has given me so much confidence. I am now comfortable talking in meetings and giving presentations both one-on-one and to larger groups - something I never would have thought I'd be able to do before starting working here. I have learnt a lot about the product development process and the skills required to work through a logical process with a team to solve a problem.
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What advice would you give to the next generation of women considering a career in engineering?
Don't be afraid to just go for it. I was nervous about going into this field as I had very little experience in engineering and didn't know much about the motor industry when I joined. However, during my time here, I have grown as a person and learnt a lot. Everyone I have spoken to has been willing to help me and explain things I didn't quite understand which has helped me boost my confidence and encouraged me to ask questions to develop my knowledge. Some advice I have been given is to always ask questions; this not only helps you to learn but also allows an alternative opinion to be considered, which means that others might learn something too.
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Why do you believe engineering is a rewarding and exciting field for women to be part of, both now and in the future?
Engineering is a field which is always changing and adapting for the future - that's what's exciting about it! We are working at the forefront of the products which will be sold in the future, which means that what we do now will impact people in future generations.
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Clare
Machining supervisor, Ford Motor Company
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What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and what would you say to young girls who might not see it as a typical path for women?
My Dad was an engineer and encouraged me to consider engineering. He arranged work experience in Rolls Royce where I saw how their factories operate. There were few, if any women, but having been surrounded by boys in Maths and Physics lessons, it didn't bother me.
I encourage young girls to talk to engineers (male or female) to find out about engineering - it's such a broach area that, if you're interested in solving problems and how things work, you may find a branch that suits you. Don't let the percentages of men put you off - your interest in the content is what matters and makes the work interesting and enjoyable.
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What’s one myth or stereotype about women in engineering that you'd love to challenge?
"People always say 'it must be difficult being one of the only women' in your factory/company/area.
It's all I have ever known and being a woman is not difficult to me!"
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What has been your proudest moment or achievement in your engineering career so far?
I led a team of engineers to launch a fantastic new engine - there were no machines when we started; when we finished, we had machines running production on 2 shifts. It was varied, technically challenging, sometimes stressful but great fun, made so by the enthusiastic team with which I worked.
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How has your career in engineering allowed you to grow — in terms of experience, progression, and personal development?
I've had a variety of roles. Some have suited me more than others, which has taught me what to look for in new jobs. My technical knowledge has grown but, probably more importantly, my experience with people. I now manage a team and am learning all the time.
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What advice would you give to the next generation of women considering a career in engineering?
Seek out engineers (male or female), ask about their work past and present (its content, what they like and don't). Try to understand the variety of roles in engineering before ruling it out.
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Why do you believe engineering is a rewarding and exciting field for women to be part of, both now and in the future?
It can be rewarding for both men and women. Things that I find rewarding range from the small to the large e.g. working with a team to fix a quality issue so it never recurs; teaching a new engineer something they didn't know and seeing them utilise it to improve; seeing a component go through a production line for the first time; implementing a change which will save millions per year. In engineering, you never stop learning which keeps it interesting.
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Who has been your engineering role model or someone who has really helped or inspired you in your career, and why?
My Dad was a real role model - at times, without me really knowing. Along the way, I've encountered people who've behaved in really professional ways, managed to deal with tricky situations or had superb technical knowledge who have also inspired me.
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Jessica Sandwith
Battery Manufacturing Engineer, Ford Motor Company
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What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and what would you say to young girls who might not see it as a typical path for women?
My Dad inspired me to take up engineering. We would work on projects together, he taught me how to use all sorts of tools and machines as well as introduced me to CAD at a young age.
Engineering presents many challenges but being able to work through these and offer solutions to solve a problem is extremely fulfilling. The skills I have learnt can be applied to all aspects of my life.
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What’s one myth or stereotype about women in engineering that you'd love to challenge?
A stereotype may be that women are not capable to become engineers/work in a male dominated industry.
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What has been your proudest moment or achievement in your engineering career so far?
Being able to use heavy machinery and create 3D models using CAD.
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How has your career in engineering allowed you to grow — in terms of experience, progression, and personal development?
I am in the very beginning of my career and there is so much more to learn. By taking the apprenticeship route, I was able to experience different roles and different teams. This has been great regarding expanding my professional network and for learning new skills.
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What advice would you give to the next generation of women considering a career in engineering?
I would really recommend doing an apprenticeship as you get so much industry experience.
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Charlotte Gill
Diagnostic Engineer (2nd Yr Degree Apprentice), Ford Motor Company LTD
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What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and what would you say to young girls who might not see it as a typical path for women?
I have always been interested in doing something technical, whether that was working in a lab as a chemist, or being a hands on mechanic. I applied to the degree apprenticeship program at Ford on a whim, certain that there was no chance I would get it. I knew Ford's reputation, and had friends and family who worked there, so knew of the exciting opportunities in my grasp. I am pleased to say that I was correct in that the opportunities are endless, I have been to Belgium on Driver training, visited Frankfurt on launch for the new Transit Custom, and have been involved in extreme high and low temperature testing in a Climate chamber...and that's just scratching the surface! Yes, it may not be the most typical career path, but why miss out on something like this, simply because you never started. Embrace the change and give it a try!
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What’s one myth or stereotype about women in engineering that you'd love to challenge?
That there aren't any women in engineering! Yes, we are a minority, but those of us who are apart of this engineering team, are impactful and host a plethora of unique skills. I haven't met a single women in this career path who isn't an advocate for getting more women into engineering, helping to upskill them to be greater. Just because we are few, does not mean we are less significant.
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What has been your proudest moment or achievement in your engineering career so far?
My proudest moment so far is how I have managed to complete work independently, being only 19 years old and in year 2 of my apprenticeship. It is really rewarding to know that your supervisor trusts you and has faith in your ability to get things done so early on in my career! I have managed to do this alongside balancing my university work, and am pleased with both my academic and professional performance.
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How has your career in engineering allowed you to grow — in terms of experience, progression, and personal development?
I have been given the opportunity to gain a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, as part of my Product Development Degree Apprenticeship. Equally, my program is 4 years long, and gives me the chance to rotate around 6 different teams in this time frame. I have so far been in a diagnostics team and validated vehicle software, an interiors team, helping choose import trim parts in the cockpit of the vehicle, as well as an integration team, acting as the voice of the customer, and getting to test out competitor vehicles. Being an apprentice is a free ticket to ask as many questions as physically possible. Everyone is here to facilitate learning, whether you are 19 like me or 60! The skills I have learnt are transferable across any career path, so if engineering turns out to not be for you, you'll already be way ahead of the field.
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What advice would you give to the next generation of women considering a career in engineering?
Don't be nervous about giving it a go! There is nothing to loose. This was exactly my logic when joining onto the apprenticeship, having no engineering background, and not even being a crazed car fanatic! Give it try, and put 100% effort into what you do, show people that you are passionate and hard working, and it can take you a long way. Engineering isn't just automotive, like the career path I have chosen, but can also be applied to a whole host of sectors. Theres something for everyone.
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Why do you believe engineering is a rewarding and exciting field for women to be part of, both now and in the future?
The field of engineering is ever changing, with new technologies, future planning, and more refined thinking now impact how we work today. Its exciting to be a part of that change, and see something you have worked on be implemented in real life. I am excited by the idea that I, amongst many others, are the next generation of leaders, and are learning how to engineer products efficiently but to the highest standard. 20 years ago electric vehicles were completely unknown but will now be our future, who knows what else is to come, but I know I want to be a part of it.
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Who has been your engineering role model or someone who has really helped or inspired you in your career, and why?
Growing up, I watched a friends mum work her way through the ranks in an Engineering role. I have seen her move into a Chief managerial role in Engineering, and is one of few women with this privileged role. She prides herself on helping to empower other women and girls, using her position to help lead Women in Engineering days and encourage school age children to consider it as a path. She has been a true inspiration to me, I want to follow the journey that she has been on, building up her reputation, her skill base and her knowledge to feel achieved and make a change. It's rewarding seeing that a women can do it too! Some may say Engineering is an atypical path for women, or that its not interesting or exciting, but the opportunities to learn are vast, and you'll never know if you don't try.
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women in engineering: JLR.
In celebration of Women in Engineering Day, we've gathered insights from six inspiring women at JLR, spanning diverse engineering roles from team leaders to manufacturing specialists. Discover what ignited their passion for engineering, how they challenge stereotypes, their proudest achievements, and invaluable advice for the next generation. Their collective experiences illuminate the dynamic, evolving, and inclusive nature of engineering, emphasising the critical role of diverse perspectives in shaping our future.
Click the drop downs below to access the questions and answers.
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Stacey Ayliffe
Team leader, JLR
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What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and what would you say to young girls who might not see it as a typical path for women?
My husband worked in engineering and encouraged me to explore that new avenue of work. And if I could give a piece of advice to the younger me I’d say dare to try something different. I wish I started my journey into engineering earlier.
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What’s one myth or stereotype about women in engineering that you'd love to challenge?
I think that one of the stereotypes people associate with engineering is that because it is very male based it can be an uncomfortable environment for females but that is not the case. My colleagues treat me no different because I’m female and I’m more than comfortable in the environment I work in.
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What has been your proudest moment or achievement in your engineering career so far?
Getting my team leader position and being encouraged and guided into a new area of engineering that I can learn even more new skills and work with more great role models.
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How has your career in engineering allowed you to grow — in terms of experience, progression, and personal development?
It has given me confidence and self belief that at any age you can learn new skills and still gain progression in my job.
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What advice would you give to the next generation of women considering a career in engineering?
Start that journey now, learn as much within your job role as possible and don’t be afraid to upskill to levels that may feel beyond your capabilities because the teams around you are there to help you grow to achieve those capabilities.
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Why do you believe engineering is a rewarding and exciting field for women to be part of, both now and in the future?
Engineering is an evolving role based on many of the things we have around us and I feel that for both men and women in engineering it is very inspiring to be part of those engineering facilities that are contributing to the things that are evolving around us all.
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Who has been your engineering role model or someone who has really helped or inspired you in your career, and why?
I have had several role models Daniel Thomas (SPL) Nicholas Cooper (PL) Andrew Green (TL) that have helped or encouraged me to progress where I might not have had the confidence to push for progression if they hadn’t showed me my capabilities.
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Kerry Giordan
Production Control Leader, JLR
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What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and what would you say to young girls who might not see it as a typical path for women?
I've always been interested in how things work - and how I can make them better. To young girls who are unsure about engineering I would say to consider the less obvious engineering careers, its an industry that is constantly changing but there are endless areas of engineering which use different skills, from design to modelling, testing, data engineering, cost engineering, manufacturing and process, AI, security, structural/civil and many many more.
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What’s one myth or stereotype about women in engineering that you'd love to challenge?
People think that women in engineering are probably 'boyish' or less feminine because of their chose career. This simply isn't true any more of engineering than any other career path.
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What has been your proudest moment or achievement in your engineering career so far?
There have been a few, graduating with honours from Warwick uni with my daughter there was definitely one!
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How has your career in engineering allowed you to grow — in terms of experience, progression, and personal development?
My career has allowed many growth opportunities - from sponsorship through my degree, management courses and projects and roles that where I have led cross functional teams
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What advice would you give to the next generation of women considering a career in engineering?
Talk to people and embrace opportunities, there are so many people out there with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Don't follow their path blindly but learn everything you can from everyone you interact with.
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Why do you believe engineering is a rewarding and exciting field for women to be part of, both now and in the future?
As I mentioned, as an industry its always evolving. Materials, processes, machinery, AI, computing and connectivity have evolved so much in the last 10 years and will continue too. For me this means I won't bore of it, I may change my field slightly sometimes but I won't bore of engineering.
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Holly Hall
Senior Engineer Critical Concerns, JLR
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What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and what would you say to young girls who might not see it as a typical path for women?
I always had a passion for cars after spending my childhood at various showrooms with my dad looking at the latest releases, I did my GSCE's and just about scraped through my A-levels and decided to head to JLR after sixth form as an agency worker. I worked on the production line for 10 years before gaining experience in management and taking a sideways move into current manufacturing engineering as a process engineer.
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What’s one myth or stereotype about women in engineering that you'd love to challenge?
All of them! Its a myth that women are not as interested in the mechanical workings of vehicles and also that in a male dominated industry we cant be successful.
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What has been your proudest moment or achievement in your engineering career so far?
Gaining my current role in product integrity. Its incredibly interesting and dealing with severe failures surrounding our products. Every day is different and each day i learn something new.
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How has your career in engineering allowed you to grow — in terms of experience, progression, and personal development?
Exponentially, its taught me so much about how to deal with problems in work and my day to day life, engineering is so broad and isn't limited to CAD or high level design. There's a place for everyone and all interests, the world around us is built, maintained and improved by engineers.
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Paula Flore
Manufacturing Specialists Associate, JLR
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What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and what would you say to young girls who might not see it as a typical path for women?
I am the girly type of woman and I never imagined myself in this industry, however I got at a point in my life when I start to get depressed probably because i could do much more but i created imaginary limits for myself, and i knew that the only way for me to get over that it's a challenge ....to do things that I never believed that I am able to do, I started small with solo traveling, lean to swim, and a new job in automotive.
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What’s one myth or stereotype about women in engineering that you'd love to challenge?
Doesn't matter the gender, the personality ,the body type, there is a position for everyone.
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What has been your proudest moment or achievement in your engineering career so far?
My proudest it's the fact that after one year I am still in the same company, I am part of a team improvement circle focused on people and recognition of their efforts, I meet quality people, i am part of diversity-equity and inclusion council, and a future electrical car builder.
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How has your career in engineering allowed you to grow — in terms of experience, progression, and personal development?
I could say that my progression was available thanks to a supportive environment, and various projects well communicated and designed to suit my interests and skills.
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What advice would you give to the next generation of women considering a career in engineering?
I would say, what I've been advised by my friend when I was scared even to apply for the job. Just do it! we are capable of much more the we think. If I can do it ,everyone can, and let me know when you start, if I was right or no.
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Why do you believe engineering is a rewarding and exciting field for women to be part of, both now and in the future?
Definitely, it is the place where I would like to picture myself in the future.
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Who has been your engineering role model or someone who has really helped or inspired you in your career, and why?
I have meet so many inspiring people ,no matter how much I try I can't do a short list, nevermind nominating only one name.
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british airways Q&A.
We're proud to feature insights from three inspiring women at British Airways Engineering. Discover what sparked their journeys into engineering and aviation, how they challenge stereotypes, their proudest achievements, and invaluable advice for the next generation. Their collective experiences illuminate the dynamic, evolving, and inclusive nature of engineering, emphasising the critical role of diverse perspectives in shaping the future of the industry.
Click each name below to read about their experiences working in engineering.
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Sugam Gupta, Technical Engineer - Powerplant, BA
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How did you get into the Engineering sector? What inspired you to apply for a role at British Airways?
From a very young age, I was always fascinated about why things work the way they do – whether this was dismantling gadgets at home or being curious from all the airplanes posters and massive aviation related books in my sister’s room, who is now India’s first twin otter female pilot. My curiosity evolved into a passion of problem-solving and seeking solutions with innovative ideas, which eventually led me towards engineering. This was very much reflective from my selection of STEM subjects during my schooling days, determined to challenge the stereotype that engineering was a male-dominated industry. Having the privilege to begin my career with Rolls-Royce kept me motivated and also encouraged to achieve the best of my potential.
What inspired me to British Airways was the opportunity to be a part of something beyond just engineering. British Airways is about keeping the world connected, with safety at its priority. My vision of contributing to a safe journey of millions of people across the globe was incredibly inspiring to me, and therefore I saw it as a perfect platform to develop, make an impact and hoping to pave the way for more women in engineering and aviation industry.
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What piece of advice would you share with young women who are aspiring to join the Engineering sector and work for British Airways?
Trust yourself!
Believe in your potential, even if the path ahead seems unfamiliar and rocky. An interesting point to note is engineering is not just about technical skills- it is about being passionate, creative and having the drive to solve real-world problems. Your gender doesn’t define your limits- your capabilities and drive does. You belong to this industry just as must as anyone else.
British Airways is an incredible place to work for anyone who is passionate about innovation and airplanes. The company supports inclusion, and moreover gives you the opportunity to work on engineering challenges that makes a true difference to the industry.
My advice to anyone seeking a career in engineering – Be curious and ask questions! Seek mentors, whether within or outside the company. Aviation industries, especially likes of British Airways, needs diverse voices and fresh perspectives – and that includes yours too.
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What more do you think could be done to encourage more women into the Engineering sector?
To encourage more woman in engineering, we need to pay more focus on the narrative at a very young age. This means breaking down the stereotypes, showcasing female role models, and also echoing that engineering is very powerful and inclusive field. It is one of the fields where women not only belong, but also lead. Schools and universities can launch pathways that inspire young woman to explore STEM with high confidence. But equal important is how much your work places is actively invested in creating inclusive cultures, mentorship programs and visible representation at all levels, including leadership level.
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Looking ahead to the future of Engineering, what excites you the most?
One thing that excites me the most about the future of engineering is the opportunity of being the part of transformation that frames a sustainable, connected and innovative world. Right from the advancement in cleaner propulsion technologies to data driven aircraft maintenance, the industry is evolving rapidly and massively.
Being a technical engineer means I get the opportunity to be hands-on with the systems that keep the aircraft safe, efficient and future-proof. What excites me more is knowing the work we contribute to today is laying the foundation for the next generation of aviation – one that is more greener, full of out-of-box thinking and opportunities.
There is now a demand of increasing focus on diversity in engineering. More women are stepping in the field breaking the norms and bringing fresh ideas to the table. My vision of future of engineering does not stop at introduction of new technologies but about bringing new perspectives.
I feel truly proud to be a part of journey that’s opening doors for the next wave of female engineers.
British Airways Q&A -
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Lia Hoad, Production Planning Engineer, BA
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How did you get into the Engineering sector? What inspired you to apply for a role at British Airways?
I always knew I wanted a career within aviation, and I found a local college course for aircraft maintenance. I studied there for 2 years after I left school and knew I wanted to work in engineering. Having seen a previous student’s success after completing an apprenticeship I started to look for schemes and I applied for BA. And was fortunate enough to be accepted onto the 3 year apprenticeship scheme in 2019.
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Please can you explain a bit more about your role? How did you get to where you are today?
I work in production planning where I plan maintenance inputs ensuring aircraft remain compliant and all tasks are up to date. I started my career as a mechanic working on the line and in the hangars performing scheduled and heavy checks. I then moved from BA after my apprenticeship to Boeing where I worked on freighter conversions. I began to take interest in what went on ‘behind the scenes’ in the technical support department and I completed a 6-month secondment in tech records where I then worked for a year before moving into my current position in planning.
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What has been the highlight of your career or favourite memory from working within British Airways Engineering?
Working with the live aircraft on the line and fixing incoming defects and ensuring the aircraft takes off again on time was the highlight for me. Everyday it gave a buzz to be at the airport and knowing you made a difference ensuring the people on board still made it to their destination because our team fixed a defect on their aircraft was very rewarding. Everyday bought a new challenge. The BA apprenticeship was the best start to my career I could have asked for as well, there was support from so many areas and everyone would be willing to help you at all times.
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Have you ever had coach, mentor or role model within Engineering? (Internal or External!) How have they helped you get to where you are today? Do you have any examples of strong female allyship?
I worked with some fantastic women during my time at BA who really supported me and helped me feel at home. They gave me the confidence to work in a very male dominated industry and feel like my voice was always heard.
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What piece of advice would you share with young women who are aspiring to join the Engineering sector and work for British Airways?
Don’t be afraid because the whole industry is extremely supportive and everyone wants you to do well and you will be supported and listened to no matter what. There are so many doors to open in this industry and opportunities are always around the corner.
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What more do you think could be done to encourage more women into the Engineering sector?
Reach out to schools. I wanted to be a dance teacher when I left school because I did not know how big of an industry aviation was and how many opportunities there were because I knew nothing about it! If I had known about the opportunities in school I would have applied sooner. Show that it isn’t just ‘hands on engineering’ The industry is huge and I am still learning about roles I didn’t know existed in engineering.
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Looking ahead to the future of Engineering, what excites you the most?
BA have made and will continue to make huge investments in their engineering. New facilities, new equipment and also in the future there will be new aircraft which will bring challenges and a new learning experience which I cannot wait to be a part of.
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Grace Reeder, Engineering Safety & Compliance Support Admin
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How did you get into the Engineering sector? What inspired you to apply for a role at British Airways?
Whilst growing up, my parents worked for British Airways. My Dad would tell me stories about life on the ramp, and with each story my interest in aviation grew, to the point where I knew that’s what I wanted to do too.
I went to the University of West London to study for four years. In my final term, my dissertation supervisor knew of an opportunity within British Airways, and he recommended me to apply for the role, even though I had not graduated at the time.
The role was for a Safety, Security and Risk Admin, to which I was invited, interviewed and subsequently offered the position to start in September 2023.
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Please can you explain a bit more about your role? How did you get to where you are today?
After joining Corporate Safety & Security, a further opportunity arose to join the Engineering Safety & Compliance team, to which I couldn’t turn down, as it would be more aircraft maintenance oriented.
My current role is in Engineering Safety and Compliance, and I support the processing of Engineer Authorisations and Licencing. As part of this role, I get to interact with all areas of Engineering, offering guidance on authorisation and licencing applications. I also support our Safety & Compliance Engineers with compliance audits, investigations and foreign approvals.
Having started my career at British Airways less than two-years ago with very little experience, and considering where I am now, it just goes to show that you can get into Engineering without having extensive experience.
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Have you ever had coach, mentor or role model within Engineering? (Internal or External!) How have they helped you get to where you are today? Do you have any examples of strong female allyship?
Since joining Engineering Safety & Compliance, I have received coaching and mentorship from the team, it’s hard for me to single out only one person as they all have helped me grow my confidence in different ways and are very supportive in my development.
The team always make an effort to involve me in different activities; some memorable experiences include visiting Satellite Offices, seeing the Concorde in West Base, and being in the flight deck for an Engine Ground Run on one our 777s.
The development in my confidence has allowed me to represent Engineering on the Committee for British Airways WINGS (Women’s Inclusion Network Group for Success), where I have the strongest female allyship.
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