UWE Bristol is proud to share that the Women Like Me mentoring programme, based in the School of Engineering, has been named Outstanding Programme of the Year at the inaugural Bristol Women in Business Awards 2026.
Originally created in 2018 by Laura Fogg Rogers and Laura Hobbs, the programme supports women entering engineering through mentoring, role models and outreach. Since then it has grown into a collaboration between UWE Bristol, industry partners and community organisations, with programme delivery and partnerships led by Sarah Behenna.
The judges praised the programme’s impact, noting its:
“measurable success in supporting women through their career journeys and the significant ripple effect across the regional STEM sector… creating a sustainable pipeline of visible role models for thousands of young girls.”
So far the programme has supported 400+ women through mentoring, outreach and career development across engineering and other male-dominated STEM sectors.
A key part of this work has been collaboration with the brilliant UWE Bristol Apprenticeships team, helping expand the programme to diversify degree apprenticeships. Working with FE colleges, employers and EDI organisations, the initiative is helping address regional skills shortages while building a more inclusive STEM workforce.
Women Like Me has grown thanks to support from the Royal Academy of Engineering, Office for Students, Digital Engineering Technology & Innovation (DETI) and SUEZ.
Through Office for Students funding, the programme has also partnered with organisations working to improve diversity across STEM:
• STEMAZING
• SW England STEM Ambassadors
• WISE
• Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK)
• Babbasa
• Inclusive Change Ltd
The programme continues to evolve thanks to colleagues across UWE. Since 2024, Susan Durbin, Vanda Papafilippou and Amina Hamoud have lent their expertise to strengthening work on inclusive HR practices and intersectionality within the programme. Expansion into the built environment sector from 2023 was also supported by colleagues including Samantha Organ, with additional support from Rider Levett Bucknall RLB.
Congratulations also to Meg Ginsberg, who won the Inspiring Young Woman award and has been a fantastic participant in the programme.
We were also proud to see many UWE colleagues recognised as finalists, including Clare Wilkinson, Shannon Bowle and Susan Durbin.
This award highlights what can be achieved through sustained collaboration between universities, employers and communities. By diversifying routes into engineering and related sectors, programmes like Women Like Me play an important role in addressing critical skills shortages in STEM, helping to build a workforce that is both highly skilled and more representative of the society it serves.
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Empowering Female Talent in Transport, Logistics and Technology
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As part of Women’s History Month, UWE Bristol is bringing together students, academics and industry professionals for a Female Talent event focused on Transport, Logistics and Technology.
Taking place on Wednesday 25 March at 1-3pm, this collaborative event will explore how we can build a more inclusive and diverse future for sectors that are central to innovation, sustainability and economic growth.
Delivered in partnership with Hitachi and Innovate UK, the event aligns with the Project Electric Freightway initiative and Hitachi’s Female Talent Initiative. Together, these partnerships aim to address both the transition to net zero and the urgent need to strengthen female representation across the workforce.
Why this matters
Transport, logistics and technology are undergoing rapid transformation, particularly in response to decarbonisation and digital innovation. However, women remain underrepresented across many areas of these sectors.
This event aims to open up conversations around:
- Career pathways and opportunities
- Representation and visibility
- Barriers and challenges
- The future of inclusive innovation
By bringing together different perspectives, we hope to inspire more women to see themselves within these industries and to support organisations in creating environments where diverse talent can thrive.
Connecting education and industry
A key focus of the event is strengthening the connection between students and industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from professionals working across transport, infrastructure, consultancy and policy, gaining insight into a wide range of career journeys, including non-linear pathways into the sector.
The event will also highlight how academia and industry can work together to better support emerging talent, ensuring that pathways into these careers are visible, accessible and inclusive.
Learning from experience and sharing insights
Through an expert panel and facilitated discussions, participants will explore real experiences of working in the sector, including both the opportunities and the challenges.
These conversations are designed to:
- Challenge perceptions of the sector
- Highlight the diversity of roles available
- Provide practical advice and relatable insights
- Create space for honest and open dialogue
Join the conversation
This event is open to students and staff across UWE Bristol, as well as local FE school/college students, industry professionals and male allies who are committed to strengthening female representation in these sectors.
If you are interested in exploring career opportunities, expanding your network, or contributing to a more inclusive future for transport and technology, we encourage you to get involved.
Register your place here: https://uwe.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3DhD0PuaFjWxSGq
Get training to inspire schools in green jobs
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Are you passionate about green jobs? Want to inspire children into the green sector & empower teachers in their eco-teaching? This could be the training for you.
When: Tuesday 25th November, 4 – 6pm
Where: 4Z002, School of Engineering, UWE Bristol, Frenchay campus
The Inspire Sustainability team based in the School of Engineering, are partnering with Graphic Science, the STEM Ambassador Delivery Partner for South West England – to deliver the training.
This training session is for people passionate about green jobs in the South West of England who want to connect with schools to inspire the next generation into the green sector – both through sharing career stories with children directly, and through empowering teachers to use examples of green careers in their teaching.
Expect to be equipped with the resources, lesson plans, and insight into how to deliver engaging green job workshops in schools. The workshops are based on the “Inspiring Green Futures” top-trump style cards that feature 48 local people in green jobs.
Breif agenda:
- learn a little bit about the background to why this resource was created, includingthe just transition and inclusive recruitment issues it seeks to address.
- focused practical training – equipping you with what you need to go into schools and talk to children and teachers about green careers
- end with opportunities to sign up to workshop days in schools, and to get involved in UWE led teacher CPD sessions, where you can connect with teachers and influence their lesson plans.
Join the Women Like Me Mentoring Programme
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The 2025 – 26 Women Like Me mentoring programme is open for applications from mentors and mentees!
Women Like Me pairs senior women engineers/property professionals in the Bristol and Bath area with their junior counterparts. Mentoring relationships are fostered through various events put on by the UWE team and their partners STEMazing. But this programme goes one step further – providing training and opportunities for junior women to engage in STEM education outreach within local schools.
Through this combination of peer mentoring and outreach, the scheme aims to boost female representation in engineering and construction careers at all levels. The mentoring side addresses retention issues, whilst outreach in schools boosts recruitment of women in male-dominate industries.
Women Like Me is an award winning scheme that’s been running for over six years and has empowered over 350 women. And you could be a part of this new cohort!
Big thank you goes out to Suez, Recycling and Recovery who are sponsoring this year’s programme.
Who Can Take Part?
Women in engineering or property professions within in the Bristol and Bath areas.
- Mentees: We’re inviting women with less than five years of industry experience to take part as mentees. This is a fantastic opportunity to receive tailored guidance and support from experienced professionals.
- Mentors: If you’re a woman with at least five years of professional experience, we encourage you to sign up as a mentor. As a mentor, you’ll receive training and support to help you guide your mentee through the year.
If you’ve been part of the Women Like Me Mentoring Programme before, we encourage you to spread the word within your companies and among friends. Your support is crucial, and you’re more than welcome to join this year’s scheme as mentors.
Date for the diary!
Please sign ASAP – we’ll be pairing you up mentor-to-mentee in early November before the kick off event on 11th November.
Save the date: Tuesday 11th November, 4:30 – 6pm at Suez Energy Recovery Centre, Avonmouth.
This event will introduce you to the Women Like Me programme, with some top tips and discussion about mentoring and outreach. And hopefully include getting to meet your new mentee/mentor for the first time (!) as well as the rest of this years cohort.
Find out more about the mentoring programme in the below video:
Driving Skills and Diversity: UWE Bristol Apprenticeships Recognised
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Earlier this year, UWE Bristol was named Training Provider of the Year at the prestigious Enginuity Skills Awards 2025.
The Training Provider Skills Champion of the Year award recognises outstanding commitment to learning and skills development, supporting sustainable engineering and manufacturing growth through partnerships between providers and employers.
Since 2017, UWE Bristol has supported more than 1,000 Engineering and Built Environment apprentices, with achievement rates of up to 100%. Our Women in Industry project is one example of how we are tackling skills and diversity gaps. By working with employers and STEM networks, the project boosted female apprenticeship applications by 60% in a single year.
“We are so proud of our Apprenticeship programmes, and the opportunities they provide for increasing access, participation, and representation in engineering and construction. This award reflects the hard work and dedication of so many people, underpinned by critical projects such as Women Like Me,”
– Simon Flenley, Assistant Director of Research & External Engagement (Skills), UWE Bristol
Recognition across the sector
Our success at the Enginuity Awards was followed by further recognition: UWE Bristol has also been shortlisted for University of the Year at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards 2025.
These awards showcase the breadth of talent within multicultural communities, supported by employers and learning providers. Apprenticeships at UWE Bristol play a vital role in widening participation and reaching groups who may not typically access higher education.
“At Babbasa, we believe all young people, regardless of background, deserve the chance to realise their professional ambitions. Through our partnership with UWE’s Centre for Apprenticeships, we’re bridging the gap between aspiration and opportunity by empowering employers with inclusive practices, uplifting young voices, and creating pathways to a fairer, more representative workforce,”
– Sangeetha Wynter, Head of Services, Babbasa
Looking forward
While we know there is still more to do, these achievements highlight UWE Bristol’s ongoing commitment to creating inclusive, employer-led apprenticeships that drive both social mobility and regional skills growth.
We’re excited to build on this momentum and continue working with employers, partners, and communities to expand opportunities for all.
Internship Reflection: Finding Purpose Beyond the Pay | CATE’s internship scheme
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By Nicolle Hanselmann
I was lucky to be accepted into the School of Engineering’s summer internship programme. While everyone knows students are often broke (yes, money does help), my motivation came from somewhere deeper.
A little background before I dive into my experience.
I’m a mature student studying Mechatronics, about to begin my third year on an Integrated Master’s degree. Excited, and maybe a bit scared, I chose this path to save time, which meant skipping the usual placement year that helps students stand out after graduation. Placements can often be the golden ticket during interviews, but for me, internships became the bridge, the opportunity to gain experience, build confidence, and see where I might belong.
So, what was the experience like?
And would I recommend it to other students?
The answer is: Absolutely, yes, without a doubt.
What I Did
The variety of things I got involved in was incredible, and to be honest, fun. And how many people can say that about work?
My very first task was helping at the Cheltenham Science Festival, where we welcomed families, schools, and curious minds from all walks of life. It was my first real taste of making science accessible and enjoyable. I found myself explaining technical ideas in simple, playful ways, testing not just my knowledge, but my ability to connect.
We had children (and enthusiastic adults!) building wind turbines out of cardboard. Some people had never done anything like it before, and that meant a lot to me, because I am “some people.”
Other events I supported included:
- Festival of Nature, Bristol: I greeted passersby, encouraged them to join in, and helped run our “Find the Sustainable Job Posters” activity (which came with well-earned stickers!)
- UWE Family Fun Day: Welcoming families, helping with activities, and watching kids light up as they explored the engineering building
- Women Like Me Mentoring Scheme: A mentor–mentee programme where I had the chance to share thoughts and be part of conversations that matter.
- Leaders Awards Day: A celebration of creativity and potential young minds, and I got to be part of the team behind it
- Unlock Cyber Taster Day
- And, of course, the behind-the-scenes stuff, setting up, packing down, and tidying. Because every job, big or small, matters.
New Skills and Unexpected Growth
One of the highlights for me was blogging for the School of Engineering, with my reflection featured on the official UWE Engineering Blog:
I also found myself developing science communication skills in ways I never expected. No, I wasn’t giving formal speeches, but I was constantly talking to people, answering questions, guiding activities, and breaking things down in real time. That kind of spontaneous, human-centred interaction is public speaking, just more personal, more alive.
I learned how to tailor conversations depending on who I was talking to. A five-year-old? A retired engineer? A curious parent? Every moment taught me something.
These are the skills I’ll carry forward, not just in my studies, but in life.
A Heartfelt Thank You
This internship showed me a new side of engineering, not just circuits and code, but people, purpose, and passion. I got to work with some of the most down-to-earth, inspiring science communicators I’ve ever met. They believed in me, supported me, and gave me the space to show up as myself.
To brag a little (because sometimes it’s important!), here’s what Elaine Brown MBE, one of the staff I worked with, wrote to my supervisor Sarah Behenna, after the Unlock Cyber Taster Day:
“Just wanted to say thank you for introducing Nicolle, who was an absolute superstar. She was my go-to meet and greet person, welcoming all the schools as they entered the building. I don’t know how many steps she took during the day, but she made sure everything ran smoothly.”
A reminder that it’s not just about what you do, it’s about how you show up.
Final Thoughts
I now proudly include this on my CV:
Outreach and Engagement Intern – UWE School of Engineering
May–July 2025
- Delivered interactive STEM activities at public events and festivals
- Contributed a published blog to the UWE Engineering site
- Supported event planning, coordination, and inclusive engagement
- Gained hands-on skills in science communication and team collaboration
If you ever have such an opportunity, take it. It might just be the thing that connects the dots in your journey, shows you what you’re capable of, and reminds you why you chose this path in the first place.
Engineering Family Fun Day – A Celebration of Curiosity, Creativity, and Community
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“It was great to see so many young people being interested in STEM. It was also a good day for parents who are not in the STEM field as well, to see them ask questions and inspire their children was amazing!”
– Sally Sin, Student Ambassador
UWE Engineering did it again! Our Family Fun Day welcomed a lively crowd of over 800 parents, children, students, and staff, all brought together by the magic of science, technology, and imagination.
The day was packed with hands-on activities that sparked curiosity across all ages. From making wind turbines, where every design seemed more creative than the last, attending the planetarium, to taking part in immersive simulations like car racing and flying, there was something to delight everyone.
Younger children dived into arts and crafts, decorating a beautiful wind turbine nature park. Meanwhile, our ever-popular Minecraft zone remained a crowd favourite, drawing in families for a digital STEM adventure.
For teens, the Degree Apprenticeship Talks offered valuable insights into future pathways in engineering, while those curious about sustainability took part in a fun ‘Find the Sustainable Job’ trail. The team championed for children to join the activity, and they enthusiastically did! As they explored the building, spotting posters and collecting stickers, their faces lit up with pride. And when their faces shone, so did their parents
Throughout the day, our enthusiastic staff and student ambassadors were on hand to guide visitors, answer questions, and make sure no one missed a thing. With plenty of food (yes, there were hotdogs!) and good vibes all around, the event kept everyone fuelled and smiling.
The whole team agreed, the day was exciting, curiosity was sparked, and the time flew by! We learned, we shared, we laughed. We’re already looking forward to hopefully hosting it again in summer 2026. See you then!
Building a Greener Future: UWE Bristol Brings Together Sustainability Researchers
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In April, UWE Bristol welcomed early career researchers from across the UK for a vibrant day of collaboration and knowledge-sharing at the 3rd Sustainability Multidisciplinary Meet-Up: SHAPEing Net Zero. Hosted at the Bristol Business School and organised by Dr Jill Zhao from the School of Architecture and Environment, the event explored how research and innovation can drive an inclusive, just, and technologically enabled response to the climate crisis.
The event brought together early career researchers from over 30 universities to connect across disciplines and explore themes ranging from climate justice and community-led decarbonisation, to big data, retrofit, wellbeing, and the power of storytelling.
Spotlight on sustainable engineering and community engagement
One of the UWE researchers presenting at the event was Sarah Behenna, Project Coordinator in the School of Engineering and Science Communication Unit. She shared work from the award-winning public engagement programmes led by Dr Laura Fogg-Rogers and Dr Laura Hobbs, focused on engaging underrepresented children and young people in sustainability through the use of Minecraft.
Sarah’s presentation, titled “Empowering Youth: Communicating Sustainability and Green Skills through Minecraft”, explored how the platform is being used to introduce young people to engineering principles, sustainable development goals, and green career pathways. By designing their own sustainable communities in-game, participants gain hands-on experience of building a better future—while having fun and learning STEM skills in the process.
Forging partnerships and new ideas
Also attending from UWE Bristol was Dr Iwona Gajda, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering and a mentor on the Women Like Me/Women in Industry programme. Dr Gajda joined discussions on interdisciplinary approaches to climate action, bringing her expertise in circular economy and environmental systems.
A key strength of the event was the space it created for building new relationships and sparking collaborative ideas. During the day, Sarah connected with several researchers, including Dr Lui Tam from Cardiff University, and together they began developing a potential future grant bid – demonstrating the immediate impact of cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary networking in driving forward collaborative research.
Looking ahead
Events like SHAPEing Net Zero underline the importance of empowering the next generation of researchers to lead change across academic, policy and community settings. With sustainability, equity and engagement at the heart of its ethos, the British Academy and UWE Bristol is proud to support early career researchers as they shape a more just and resilient future.
A big thank you to Dr Jill Zhao for her vision and dedication in creating and delivering such a valuable and inspiring event.
Education and Engineering students work together to deliver workshops in schools
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Over 1500 children across 7 local schools have received an engaging STEM workshop developed and delivered by engineering and education students, as part of the Professionalism for Engineers module.
The groups of students worked together to create inspiring and fun school workshops teaching various curriculum-linked engineering concepts, aimed at primary-age pupils. 56 classes in total took place, reaching over 1500 children in Filton Avenue, Shield Road, Summerhill, May Park, Stoke Bishop, Chester Park and Glenfrome Primary schools!
The project offers the engineering students an opportunity to practice and develop their communication skills, as well as learning how to turn their technical knowledge into an engaging activity. Supported by future teachers studying education, whom also benefit by gaining confidence in teaching STEM concepts.
Additionally, education students were last week invited by the Inspire Sustainability team to visit the Prototype and Play Lab at the School of Engineering to explore the STEM outreach workshops that the team provides. The students had an introduction to all the engaging and fun outreach activities the team have developed including The West in Minecraft and the new Green Futures card sets. The students were also treated to a tour of the building and even had a chance to check out the Digital Gallery and have a go in the VR cave and on the simulators.
Luke Arnold, Senior Lecturer in Education thanked the team on behalf of the cohort; and the education students have also been offered opportunities to join the Inspire Sustainability team on future outreach.
To find out more about the Professionalism for Engineering module, the Education course or the Inspire Sustainability team and their outreach, please contact Juliet.Edmonds@uwe.ac.uk, Luke.Arnold@uwe.ac.uk, or engineeringourfuture@uwe.ac.uk.
You can also check out the Inspire Sustainability team’s outreach on curiosityconnections.net.
Green Futures workshops reaches over 2000 young people in first 3 months
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Engineering’s Inspire Sustainability team are leading on a new exciting project to inspire local children into green jobs (thanks to funders the West of England Combined Authority). Last year they recruited 48 local people in green jobs to feature on a top-trump card pack and hot off the printing press in February – the cards went straight into schools and communities!
Visiting 25 mainstream schools, five special educational needs groups and two community events since the launch- the team are are acting on UWE’s duty as a civic university to benefit the local community – raising aspirations for all young people and creating the workforce of the future to deliver Net Zero aims.
Inspiring
The Green Futures sessions have enabled young people in primary and secondary schools to discover what a green job is and how it’s relevant to their lives. They’ve explored the huge diversity in jobs (& people!) featured in the card pack, alongside hands-on activities.
The funding includes a focus on young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and in alternative learning provision (ALP) – so the team have adapted their sessions to engage these groups.
The SEND summits began in April, bringing groups into UWE’s own Prototype & Play lab. In May, that’s continuing, with groups also going into We The Curious and ss Great Britain – learning about green jobs in inspirational settings.
“Really interesting and engaging. Loved the career cards and how they showed a range of skills.”
Parent from a SEND summit
Volunteer ambassadors in green jobs are involved as well – as it’s always an inspiration to meet someone in person and for students to ask questions!
“The children loved meeting people from the cards – it really brought the session to life.”
Teacher from St Werburgh’s Primary
If your child’s school would like to book in a session please email: engineeringourfuture@uwe.ac.uk (we’re taking bookings from September as we’re fully booked until the summer!)
Connecting
At the end of March, the card pack launch was celebrated with the people featured on the cards, along with local business representatives, teachers and members of the local careers hub. As well as celebrating and connecting the amazing people who’d featured on the cards, the event also marked Retrofit Action Week with three speakers outlining how their roles contribute to making buildings Net Zero.
Find out more about the celebratory launch or explore the real people in amazing green jobs – their profiles feature here and include lots of interesting facts (including earnings ££), career routes and inspirational quotes. Look for UWE representatives – Glenn Lyons, Laura Fogg-Rogers and Roger Griffith.
We’re not just connecting with schools and businesses – we’re also going into communities. We’re joining in with local events and leading our own events in community centres – like St Paul’s Green & Healthy Careers Fair on 19th May – read more and get a ticket to come along.
Want to find out more?
More information about the Inspire Green Futures workshops can be found on the website.
The project is led by Laura Fogg-Rogers and Louisa Cockbill at UWE. Who worked alongside – My Future My Choice, the Natural History Consortium and Graphic Science, the STEM ambassador delivery partner for the SouthWest – to recruit people for the cards and now to deliver to thousands across the region.
