Equity, diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion matter

Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are important to us. We want EngineeringUK to be an inclusive, diverse workplace where everyone feels welcome and valued. We are proud members of the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei).

We also know that the engineering and tech workforce isn’t representative of wider UK workers. So, we target our outreach activities, prioritising schools where we’re likely to reach more young people from underrepresented groups.

Diversity in engineering and technology

Diversity in the workplace benefits everyone. It improves innovation, creativity, productivity and market insight. But today’s engineering and technology workforce isn’t representative.

Addressing this diversity gap is vital for the industry's growth, as it helps bridge the skills shortage by attracting young people from underrepresented groups. By expanding the talent pool and making STEM careers accessible to all, we can make sure the sector remains at the forefront of innovation and continues to meet society's evolving needs.

15.7%

of the engineering and technology workforce are women

11%

of the engineering and technology workforce are people from UK minority ethnic groups

11%

of the engineering and technology workforce are disabled people

24%

of the engineering and technology workforce are from lower socio-economic backgrounds

48%

of the UK workforce are women

13%

of the UK workforce are people from UK minority ethnic groups

15%

of the UK workforce are disabled people

26%

of the UK workforce are from lower socio-economic backgrounds

Our equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategy

Our equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategy aims to deliver higher-impact interventions, share evidence-based good practices, and improve the reach and impact of our programmes.

We work collaboratively with all our partners to embed EDI into STEM engagement activities, so young people from all backgrounds have the opportunity and exposure to engineering and technology pathways.

We analyse the composition of the engineering workforce, explore differences in perceptions of engineering careers, and assess educational pathways into engineering and technology.

Targeting underrepresented groups

We use our EDI criteria to identify the schools we want to prioritise for our programmes: from who can take part to schools eligible for our bursaries. We also cast the net far and wide to find role models relatable to adiverse range of students.

Supporting schools through bursaries

We’re proud to offer bursaries to help schools engage their students in STEM activities, enhancing the experience and making engineering and tech more accessible to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity.

Our bursaries are available for Big Bang at School and experiences listed on the Neon website, with amounts ranging from £500 to £750. The bursaries are flexible and can be used for things like teacher cover, equipment or travel.

Eligible primary and secondary schools can apply based on criteria that consider factors such as free school meal eligibility, ethnic diversity, special educational needs, and rural location.

It had the biggest impact on the most challenging kids in our school. It was these students who loved it and really got into it. It was a real hook for them… I think it improved their experience elsewhere in school.

— Teacher and previous bursary recipient

Diversity at EngineeringUK

We believe diversity at all levels is essential to achieve our mission to inspire more young people from all backgrounds to pursue careers in engineering and technology. Embracing different needs, valuing our differences, and providing opportunities for every voice to be heard helps us foster an environment where innovation and creativity flourish.

We’re proud members of the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (ENEI), the UK’s leading organisation dedicated to workplace equality. Our efforts to make EngineeringUK a diverse and inclusive workplace were recognised with the ENEI TIDE Silver Award in 2023 and again in 2024. This recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to improving our practices and delivering high-impact programmes that engage underrepresented young people in engineering.

Meet the team

Inclusive recruitment

We want EngineeringUK to be a diverse and inclusive place to work and are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. This is reflected in where we advertise our vacancies and the use of an anonymised applications system. We commit to seeing all candidates with a disability who meet our minimum requirements and ask about reasonable adjustments to help see applicants at their best in interviews.

Working at EngineeringUK