Female engineering graduate challenges stereotypes and calls for more women to consider a career in the sector

This International Women’s Engineering Day (23rd June) Nia Lewis, a Civil Engineering Graduate working for building products manufacturer Forterra, is calling for more women to consider a career in engineering.

Welsh-born Nia, aged 23, is undertaking Forterra’s graduate programme in Operational Management.

Based at Forterra’s Measham Brickworks in Leicestershire, Nia is completing the final rotation of the programme. Through the programme, Nia has had a key role within Forterra’s ‘Innovate UK Decarbonising Precast Concrete’ project.

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

“Working at Forterra has been a fantastic opportunity for me”, said Nia. “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 8th year this year, with the theme of Engineering Heroes. The aim of INWED is to highlight the amazing career opportunities available to women within the engineering industry and to celebrate the women already working in the industry.

Chief Executive of Forterra, 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.”