Each year, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) runs the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards, 

Celebrating women engineers

The prestigious Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards celebrate the very best of female talent in engineering.

The IET is looking for brilliant women who are passionate about STEM, showcasing their engineering excellence and truly engineering a better world.

The Award categories are as below.

• Young Woman Engineer of the Year
• Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices
• Women’s Engineering Society (WES) Prize
• Gender Diversity Ambassador Award

See further details below for each category.

Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award

The Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award is given to a dynamic engineer working in the UK and who is aged between 18 and 35, who is a high achiever, a problem solver, a team player and who represents the very best of the profession. She should be an inspiration and role model to her colleagues, and have the passion and personality to inspire others to follow in her footsteps.

Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices

The Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices is awarded to an outstanding engineering apprentice working in the UK, aged 18 to 35, who has made a contribution within the workplace beyond the realms of her normal duties and demonstrated dynamism in her approach to solving engineering problems. She is a real team player and is seen as an ‘all-rounder’, acting 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

The Women’s Engineering Society (WES) Prize is awarded to an inspiring engineer working in the UK, aged 18 to 35, who is able to engage and encourage young people’s involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). She wants to attract young people into engineering and may already have some experience of doing this. She is also interested in being part of solving the challenges women face in maintaining their career in engineering.

Gender Diversity Ambassador Award

The Gender Diversity Ambassador Award is presented to a person of any gender, working in the UK and of any age who has spent a large proportion of their career committed to addressing the gender imbalance within the engineering profession. They should be an inspiration to their colleagues, and have made a significant contribution to solving the engineering gender diversity gap.

Promoting engineering and technology careers to women and girls

As one of the largest engineering institutions, The Institution of Engineering and Technology promotes engineering and technology careers to young girls and women, helping them to see that engineering provides an exciting, creative and rewarding career option.

The Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards are supported by Where Women Work, InterEngineering LGBT, and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers.

Sponsoring the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards provides companies with the opportunity to support improved gender diversity within the engineering sector and showcase that support. Awards sponsors are Airbus, Boeing, Collins Aerospace, Frazer-Nash, Leonardo, London Stansted Airport, MBDA, National Grid, Northrop Grumman, Ofcom, Royal Air Force, RS Grass Roots Education, and Thales.

Watch last year's IET YWE awards ceremony

Passionate about STEM and engineering a better world?

Winners of the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards will be invited to participate in high-profile events throughout the year, attended by influential people offering excellent networking opportunities and raising their profile within the engineering industry.