As part of International Women’s Day 2026, we are supporting the Give to Gain campaign, which calls for collective action to help create a more equal and inclusive future. In the built environment sector, where women and minority groups remain underrepresented, we are committed to making a meaningful difference by investing in the engineers of tomorrow.

Despite progress in recent years, women currently make up only around 17% of the UK’s engineering and technology workforce. Addressing this imbalance is critical to the future of the sector and to ensuring a workforce that reflects the communities it serves.

At NG Bailey, we are taking action by investing in early career pathways and development programmes designed to open up opportunities and remove barriers to entry. These initiatives play a key role in encouraging more young people to consider careers in engineering and the wider built environment.

Our Engineering Your Future programme is central to this commitment. The programme introduces young people to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), with a particular focus on inspiring girls and young women to explore engineering careers. In 2025 alone, we supported more than 7,800 young people through a range of STEM learning and employability experiences across the UK.

The impact of this work was recently demonstrated at a Girls Do STEM event in Inverness. During hands-on discovery sessions, pupils worked alongside colleagues from our Freedom team to design and build their own mini wind turbines, gaining practical insight into engineering while developing confidence, creativity and problem‑solving skills.

Alongside outreach and engagement, we offer a wide range of early career opportunities through our apprenticeship and year‑in‑industry placement programmes. These roles span multiple disciplines, including BIM, electrical installation, high‑voltage engineering, quantity surveying, electrical design, digital content and network cable installation, among others.

By broadening access to careers in engineering and championing diverse talent, we aim to help change the narrative within the industry. Together, through continued investment, collaboration and inspiration, we are working towards a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive in engineering.