These annual awards look for a dynamic young engineer who represents the very best of the profession. She's a high achiever, a problem solver and a team player. She should be an inspiration to her colleagues and, just as importantly, have the charisma and personality to inspire others to follow in her footsteps. Entrants must be aged between 18 - 35 years old and working in the UK. Entrants do not need to be a member of The Institution of Engineering and Technology (The IET) to enter.

In addition to the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award, there are three further awards:

• Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices given to a young female apprentice who shows great promise and potential in the profession and is tipped to be one of tomorrow’s leaders in engineering. She has made a contribution within the workplace beyond the realms of her normal duties and demonstrated dynamism in her approach to the solution of engineering problems. A real team player, she will be seen as an 'all-rounder' who will act as an enthusiastic role model to encourage other young women to enter the profession of engineering through the apprenticeship route.
• Women's Engineering Society (WES) Prize awarded to a young female engineer who is able to engage and inspire young people’s involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). She is also interested in the challenges women face in maintaining their career in engineering and wants to attract young people into engineering and may already have some experience of doing this.
• Gender Diversity Ambassador Award that celebrate a role model, but also showcase innovation and good practices when it comes to implementing tactics and policies to address the gender gap through attracting and retaining women in engineering. He or she should be an inspiration to their colleagues, and have made a significant contribution to the engineering gender diversity arena and the work the IET encourages to address the gender diversity gap. Please note that there is no age restriction for this award and you can apply yourself or nominate someone else who you think deserves recognition for championing gender diversity.

A previous IET YWE winner is Ying Wan Loh

Manufacturing Engineer Ying Wan Loh won the 2019 Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award. A STEM ambassador, Ying wants to use her passion in arts and engineering to engage and inspire the next generation of engineers.

Winners of further awards included Dr Claire Lucas awarded the WES Prize; Samantha Magowan awarded the Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices winner; Wg Cdr (Retd) Glynis Dean who received the Gender Diversity Ambassador Award. 

Finalists for the 2019 awards were Charlotte Buffey, Material Laboratories Degree Apprentice for Rolls-Royce; Shrouk El-Attar, Electronic Design Engineer for Renishaw; Dr Claire Lucas, Director of Studies – Systems and Information Engineering at the University of Warwick; Samantha Magowan Engineering Apprentice for Dale Power Solutions; and Amber O’Connor, Engineering Programme Manager/Equipment Health Monitoring & Performance for Siemens.

Raising the visibility of women engineers

Celebrating and awarding women engineers and technologists is important for many reasons. It raises visibility, challenges bias, provides inspirational role models and also recognises the companies that support women's advancement. 

An exciting award ceremony

The prizes are awarded at a national ceremony in London in December, covered by print and broadcast media. Winners will have the opportunity to attend high profile events and meet the most influential people in the engineering industry, offering excellent networking opportunities and the chance to raising their profile.

Making a difference across the engineering sector

"We want to make it clear that engineering is a fantastic career for women. Outdated views and stereotypes are damaging to the industry, especially when there is a significant shortage of engineers, which poses a serious threat to the economy. It’s vital we champion engineering – it’s a diverse, creative and exciting career, which offers the opportunity to do something life – or even – world-changing," says Jo Foster, IET Diversity and Inclusion Manager. “There are thousands of female engineers doing amazing things – from advancements in healthcare technology to space exploration. The Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards showcase some of the best female engineering talent in this country, hopefully encouraging the next generation to get excited about the possibilities of an engineering career.”

Where Women Work is proud to support these important awards

Competition for female engineering talent is extreme, so celebrating the achievements of women engineers is key.

Support The IET annual YWE Awards

Are you a dynamic young female engineer who represents the best in her industry?

Are you a high achiever, problem solver and team player?

Get involved with these annual awards and showcase your impressive engineering achievements.

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