To mark International Women in Engineering Day, eleven students from All Saints Academy Plymouth (ASAP) took part in the Engineering Her Future event at the iconic Tamar Bridge. International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), organised by Women’s Engineering Society (WES), promotes the amazing work that women engineers across the globe are doing. 

Engineering Her Future is a free annual event hosted at the Tamar Bridge, promoting amazing opportunities in STEM (science, technology, maths and engineering) fields for young women, as currently only 16.5% of engineers are female. In particular, the event focuses on opportunities for women and girls within engineering and related sectors working locally. The event is organised by YMCA Plymouth in partnership with local schools and hosted across the incredible Tamar Bridge visitor centre.

The day offered a unique opportunity for students to explore the world of engineering first-hand. Highlights included an engaging talk from a female engineer at Babcock, who shared her journey into the industry and the exciting challenges of her role. Students also connected with a range of local employers, learning more about the diverse career pathways within engineering.

The girls also donned hard hats and safety gear to step beneath the bridge onto a platform below the road surface, getting a rare, close-up view of the engineering marvel that links Plymouth and Cornwall.

The students from ASAP, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, impressed everyone with their curiosity, confidence, and insightful questions. They represented their school with pride, showing just how bright the future of engineering can be.

 Lacey Tombs, Acting Headteacher at All Saints Academy Plymouth said:

"Our students were absolutely inspired by this experience - seeing real-life engineering in action and meeting female role models in the field was truly eye-opening. Opportunities like this help spark ambition and show our young people that there’s no limit to what they can achieve in STEM careers."

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said: 

"At the Ted Wragg Trust, we are committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring every young person sees themselves reflected in exciting careers like engineering. It’s brilliant to see All Saints students engaging so confidently in a sector where their voices and talents are so needed."