Women in the construction and engineering industry met transport minister Lord Ahmad on June 23 as part of a skills summit supporting Women in Engineering Day.

The event brought together some of the country’s top female engineers from the rail, aviation and construction sector, alongside recent graduates and engineering students from London Imperial College, to discuss how to better harness women’s skills.

Discussions focused on how to overhaul the image of the sector to find ways to encourage more women to select engineering courses at university, and pursue it as an ambitious, successful career choice.

Ahmad said: “Women currently make up a tiny proportion of our surveyors, engineers and construction professionals. We need to overhaul the sector’s image, so engineering and construction are a more attractive career option for women.

“A diverse workforce means a more successful workforce, which is why I am backing this campaign.”

The government’s support for the Women in Engineering campaign is part of its long-term strategy to boost the economy and productivity, including creating two million more jobs and three million more people starting apprenticeships over the next five years.