Keltbray celebrates International Women in Engineering Day 2023

International Women in Engineering Day 2023, observed on Friday, June 23rd, celebrates the remarkable contributions of women engineers worldwide in supporting lives and livelihoods.

This year’s theme, #makesafetyseen, highlights the exceptional women in engineering who are at the forefront of building a brighter future.

According to 2021 statistics, only 16.5% of engineers in the UK are women, indicating the need for the industry to address the lack of interest among women in pursuing careers in engineering and construction.

Keltbray’s in-house design and engineering consultancy, Wentworth House Partnership (WHP), takes pride in having 22% female representation within their workforce, slightly surpassing the industry average. However, with most engineers still being male, we decided to reach out to our WHP team to give one of our female employees the opportunity to share their experiences in construction and engineering.

Biliana Blagoeva, recently promoted to associate of WHP, provided us with insight into her journey as a young engineer:

When did you decide to pursue engineering as a career?

I didn’t consider engineering as a career path until after I began my engineering degree. Initially, I planned to spend a year in engineering and then switch to something I perceived as more artistic, such as architecture. I’m not sure what motivated me more to continue with engineering—the creative problem-solving aspect that truly captivated me or the glaring underrepresentation of women in the lecture hall. I suppose both played a role.

Why did you choose to pursue engineering, and how did you reach this point?

I enjoy solving interesting and diverse problems and facing occasional challenges. As for how I reached this point, I’ve always been curious to see what lies ahead and have simply taken one step at a time.

How has your experience been in the construction industry?

I would say it can be quite demanding and challenging at times, but ultimately, it is rewarding.

How has your time been as part of WHP?

I have been fortunate to work alongside and learn from some of the industry’s best professionals. Everyone has been supportive, always encouraging me to take the next step, step out of my comfort zone, and achieve my professional goals. I have also had the opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds and form great friendships.

What advice would you give to women considering engineering?

Go for it! Take the lead, and you will be surprised at your own abilities and what you can accomplish. Don’t allow individual differences to hinder you from feeling equal to anyone else in the room.

Biliana, alongside the team at Wentworth House Partnership, have been instrumental in expanding and cementing our reputation as a specialist in construction engineering and infrastructure services through their design and engineering capabilities.

In addition, our dedicated social value team also strives to promote social sustainability by providing decent work, advocating for equality and inclusivity, supporting local communities, and more.

Our PH² (Promote Health, Prevent Harm) strategy further supports this year’s theme of #MakeSafetySeen by integrating conventional Health & Safety and Health & Wellbeing approaches, intertwining them under a shared PH² vision.

Above all, Keltbray places a primary focus on maintaining a safe environment and healthy working conditions for all employees and supply chain partners, regardless of their location.

To learn more about International Women in Engineering Day, click here.

ENDS