Female engineering graduate challenges stereotypes

Forterra’s Nia Lewis calls for more women to consider a career in the engineering sector

TO mark International Women’s Engineering Day (23 June), Nia Lewis, a civil engineering graduate working for building products manufacturer Forterra, is calling for more women to consider a career in engineering.

Based at Forterra’s Measham Brickworks, in Leicestershire, Ms Lewis (pictured) is completing the final rotation of the company’s graduate programme in Operational Management, through which she has had a key role within Forterra’s ‘Innovate UK Decarbonizing Precast Concrete’ project.

Her work has provided insight into Forterra’s carbon emissions across the business and how these can be reduced in the future, and she is hoping to continue to work on sustainable innovations and developments in the future.

‘Working at Forterra has been a fantastic opportunity for me,’ said Ms Lewis. ‘I think it’s becoming increasingly normal to see women in STEM – science, technology, engineering and maths – roles, and I think that’s fantastic.

‘It’s so important for young girls and women to know that their gender shouldn’t and needn’t hold them back in pursuing the career they want.’

Founded by the Women’s Engineering Society, International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is celebrating its eighth year this year, with the theme of Engineering Heroes.

The aim of INWED is to highlight the many career opportunities available to women within the engineering industry and to celebrate the women already working in the industry.

Forterra’s chief executive, Stephen Harrison, said: ‘We are pleased Nia has had such a positive experience with us and we have very much enjoyed welcoming her to our team.

‘Encouraging women and young girls to consider a career within STEM or traditionally male-dominated roles is hugely important and we are proud that we are striving to have a diverse and inclusive workforce across our business.’