A programme that boosts confidence, transforms workplaces, and strengthens the region’s talent pipeline.
A Turning Point for Women in Male Dominated Industries
When Dr. Laura Fogg ‑Rogers first developed Women Like Me, she wanted to address a long standing, systemic issue that has been historically difficult to approach. Brilliant women were entering professions with enthusiasm, ability, and ambition but getting worn down and burned out quickly, because of the culture surrounding the work. Women consistently felt “like they were constantly proving they deserved to be in the room.’’
Dr. Fogg –Rogers wanted to change this by creating networks of women within male-dominated industries who feel seen and supported. “Women Like Me is about making sure talented women aren’t lost in the background. When women feel supported and empowered, they contribute more confidently to their teams and the whole sector benefits.”
That belief has helped shape a research‑informed, award‑winning, initiative that is transforming how the region nurtures and retains engineering talent.
Why Talent Was Slipping Through the Cracks
Despite major progress, women remain under-represented in Engineering and, more widely, STEM education and careers worldwide. Recent studies show women make up only 28% of the STEM workforce depending on region, and their participation in STEM training pathways remains significantly lower than men. With gender stereotypes and lack of visible role models less women are training into STEM and Engineering careers.
Further issues arise for women within the workplace. Many women report navigating professional isolation, a lack of relatable mentors, and limited opportunities to build confidence in leadership and communication. These challenges affect organisations greatly, through reduced retention, stalled progression, and a narrowing of perspectives within teams.
One engineer reflected, “I was doing good work, but I didn’t feel visible. I didn’t feel like a leader even though others told me I was capable of more.”
This gap is deeply problematic because it limits diversity, reduces inclusion, and ultimately weakens the innovation potential of the sector. At a time when the world is confronting complex economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal, and technological challenges, addressing underrepresentation is crucial. Closing the gender gap is essential to drive sustainable, tech‑enabled innovation, and to meet the economic demands of a rapidly evolving global landscape.
This is the gap Women Like Me set out to close.
Inside a Programme Built to Change the System
Women Like Me combines mentoring, skills development, outreach, and community. These are all backed by research led from UWE Bristol’s Science Communication Unit. The programme was set up in 2019 with Dr Laura Hobbs, and has received funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation initiative, Office for Students, Rider Levett Bucknall, and Suez. In 2023, the programme expanded to the construction and property sector, and in 2025 worked with UWE Degree Apprenticeships to reach women in digital and nuclear fields.
Early‑career and mid‑career women are paired with senior mentors who understand the realities of male-dominated workplaces and can offer guidance with empathy and experience.
Participants also take part in communication training and outreach activities, organised by research associates Sarah Behenna and Louisa Cockbill, to support them becoming visible role models, and developing a support structure for the next generation. This approach builds not only individual confidence but a wider culture where women’s voice is heard and their expertise is acknowledged and amplified. Since 2024, Professor Sue Durbin, Dr Vanda Papafilippou, Dr Samantha Organ, and Dr Amina Hamoud have lent their expertise to strengthening work on inclusive HR practices and intersectionality within the programme.
As one industry partner put it, “The engineers we supported through Women Like Me returned with a sense of renewed purpose. Their confidence grew; this had a direct impact on our organisation.”
The transformation participants describe is both personal and professional. Many speak about finally feeling like they belong, gaining the confidence to put themselves forward, and seeing their skills recognised within their teams. “Being part of Women Like Me helped me step into my own voice. I’m now leading projects I would never have felt bold enough to take on before.”
For enterprises, this translates into more engaged staff, stronger leadership potential, and a workplace culture that attracts and retains diverse talent. The region benefits too, through expanded outreach networks, strengthened industry–university collaboration, and a more resilient engineering and construction ecosystem built on inclusion rather than exclusion.
What’s Next for Women Like Me
The next phase of Women Like Me aims to deepen its reach, engaging more women, working with more employers, and creating broader visibility for women within the sector. The programme will continue building on the Science Communication Unit’s research to evolve mentoring, leadership training, and outreach activity.
Dr. Fogg‑Rogers says, “We’re not just supporting individual careers; we’re helping reshape the culture of engineering so that women’s talent is valued, recognised, and retained.”
Discover more about the Women Like Me project.
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