This week marks International Women in Engineering Day, so we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate one of our own – Kate, a mechanical engineer who has been part of the PSA team for the past ten years.
Kate was always strong at maths at school, but engineering was never really something she had considered. It was only after a work experience placement at a chemical engineering company that the idea started to click.
Mechanical engineering turned out to be a natural fit. It was practical, hands-on and problem-solving focused, playing to the skills she already enjoyed using.
Kate went on to study mechanical engineering at Leeds University, where she was one of only a small number of women on her course. After graduating, she started out as a trainee CAD engineer, moved into a trainee mechanical engineering role, and later joined us here at PSA.
Looking back, Kate says one of the biggest challenges was simply not knowing enough about the options available.
“When I was at school, engineering wasn’t really talked about as a career path for girls,” she says. “I was good at maths, but I didn’t really know where that could take me, and I definitely didn’t know building services engineering was a job. I think the more young girls can see what engineering actually involves, the more likely they are to picture themselves doing it.”
And while the industry has come a long way, Kate believes visibility still makes a big difference.
“I don’t see many women in my current role, so I think it’s really important that young girls know these jobs exist,” she says. “They need to see that women can and do work in these roles. That starts with more representation in schools, universities, career fairs and across the industry.”
For Kate, one of the best parts of engineering is the variety. No two projects are quite the same, and there is always a problem to solve, something to learn, and a chance to see the impact of your work in real buildings and spaces.
It is also a career that should feel open and accessible to anyone, and one where more women can see a place for themselves.
We’re proud to have Kate on the team, and proud to celebrate the women helping shape the future of engineering.
Happy International Women in Engineering Day.
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