International Women in Engineering Day 2026

International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is an annual global event organised by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) to celebrate the achievements of women engineers and encourage more girls and women to pursue engineering careers. The 2026 celebration marks the 13th year of INWED and coincides with the founding anniversary of WES on 23 June 1919, when seven pioneering women, including Lady Katharine Parsons and her daughter Rachel Parsons, established the society.

According to research, only 16.9% of the UK engineering and technology workforce are women and between 2022 and 2023, 66,000 fewer women aged 35-64 remained in the field. Yet women like Amy are proving every day why representation matters.

Meet Amy Mousley, an engineering apprentice at JJ Smith, approaching her two‑year milestone this December. From dismantling machines to rebuilding them from the ground up, she’s proving that engineering thrives on diverse perspectives, resilience, and curiosity. Her journey shows what happens when passion meets opportunity and her story needs to be shared to inspire other women and make them feel more confident and comfortable moving into the industry.

What inspired you to become an engineer?

My Design Technology teacher started it all. I loved product design, taking things apart, understanding why they worked. I was obsessed with finding better, more ergonomic solutions - especially for people with disabilities. After a trial day at JJ Smith, I fell in love instantly. It was technical, hands‑on, different every day, and it challenged me in the best way.

What advice would you give to other women entering engineering?

You bring a different perspective - that’s your power as a woman in the industry. Be yourself because when you're not that is when you will lose yourself and your passion for the job is left behind.

What has been your best experience as a female engineer?

Working with the Italian engineers. Their reaction is always, "Wait... you’re a woman? How did you get into this?" But in the most respectful way. They were supportive, encouraging, and treated me as strong and capable. Meeting people from different countries who are genuinely interested in my journey has been incredible.

What barriers have you experienced, gender related or not, (if any) within your career?

Clothing is barrier. Boiler suits never fit right, women’s versions lack knee pads and holster pockets, and unisex ones don’t fit our body shape.

How has your job influenced other areas of your life?

I’m more confident and more critical in how I approach problems. I already had customer service experience, but engineering pushed me to speak with more authority. Even with things like fixing my car - I think differently now.

How does it feel to be a woman in a male‑dominated field?

At first it was intimidating because you don’t know how people will react. Over time, you get used to the environment - but it’s still hard not to compare yourself to the men. The more familiar I became with the machines, the more confident I felt.

What is your favourite thing about being an engineer?

The satisfaction. When a machine isn't working, and you fix it then watching a piece of wood go through and come out perfect - that feeling is unmatched. Knowing you made that happen.

 What project are you most proud of?

Refurbishing a Graule crosscut saw. I stripped it down to its base components, replaced all the perishables, sanded, buffed, painted it, and rebuilt it. It took a week’s worth of work spread over a month while waiting for parts. It looked fantastic and then it sold to a customer. That was a proud moment.

What is the best career advice you’ve received?

A retired engineer told me: don’t change who you are. Don’t lose yourself to the job. Your input is different - and that’s valuable. Travelling all the time makes it hard to separate work and home life, but don’t let anyone’s opinions cloud your judgement. Stay driven and passionate.

What is the best thing about JJ Smith?

The teamwork. We don’t operate as separate office and engineering groups we work as one cohesive team. Our managing director, Rachael, is passionate about developing people, not just skills. You’re not a number, you’re part of the team, and she makes sure it shows.

Amy's story is a reminder that engineering needs more voices like hers - voices that challenge stereotypes, bring fresh perspectives, and prove that talent has no gender.