‘Together We Engineer’ event celebrating Women in Engineering
On the 18th June 2025, we hosted our first BB7 event ‘Together We Engineer’, an evening full of celebration ahead of International Women in Engineering Day.
Here’s a look at some highlights from the evening.
Despite it being the hottest day of the year, we had a fantastic turnout. With clients, colleagues and aspiring engineers all joining us at The Building Centre in London. The atmosphere was warm in every sense – and not just because of the weather. At the heart of the event was our panel discussion. While it was a safe space for open conversation, a few themes really stood out that we wanted to share.
One of the most promising messages to come through was that women are becoming more accepted across the built environment. There’s still progress to be made, especially when it comes to challenging unconscious bias, but it’s clear that things are moving in the right direction. For younger women coming into the industry now, the landscape looks very different from what it did ten years ago and that’s a real positive.
As our panel moderator, Mandy Youssef, put it, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Her words were a reminder of just how important visibility is, not just for those already in the profession, but for the next generation watching from the sidelines.
It was also great to hear about the work of groups like Male Allies UK, who are supporting men in becoming stronger, more informed allies to women, not only in engineering and construction but across all industries. Having that support is essential to creating an environment that genuinely champions gender equity and inclusivity.
Another highlight of the evening was listening to the range of career journeys shared by our speakers. From traditional university routes to apprenticeships, it was clear that there’s no one-size-fits-all route into the industry. What did stand out though, was a shared experience in that many had completed their engineering degrees, only to find out there were no jobs waiting on the other side. However, fire engineering emerged as a discipline full of opportunity, and one that’s actively crying out for talent.
One story that really resonated was from one of our own, a panellist who joined BB7 as an apprentice and is currently studying for her BEng, with plans to go on to study her Master’s, and a goal of becoming the youngest Chartered Engineer in the UK. She spoke about the value of learning on the job, but most importantly the incredible mentors who’ve supported her along the way.
To everyone who attended, we want to say a huge thank you for your support. Events like this are a reminder of just how important it is to keep showing up, sharing these stories, and shaping the future of our industry together.