Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day!

Today is International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), which recognises the fantastic work that female engineers are doing to support everyday lives globally. This annual awareness day remains a key day in Bouygues Energies & Services’ (BYES) calendar as we continue to embrace gender balance in the workplace and an inclusive culture centred around equal opportunities.

In celebration of INWED, Bouygues Construction’s female network, Welink, hosted a panel discussion with members and selected women across the business earlier today. The panel, which was opened by Amelle Mestari, Procurement and Sustainable Development Director for BYES and Welink UK Co-Chair and closed by Fabienne Viala, Chair of Bouygues Energies & Services UK, covered important topics around women in engineering, specifically in respect to the misconceptions people have, advice on the necessary skills to become an engineer and how our male mentors can support women further with their career progression, along with shared insights on what makes engineering an exciting and rewarding profession to enter.

Amelle said: “INWED provides us with a great opportunity to increase awareness on gender diversification in the workplace. The Welink panel discussion enabled women from across the business to share insights on their role and inspire others to enter the profession by putting any misconceptions aside. It was also an ideal forum for our people to hear first-hand how being a female in engineering is an exciting prospect, and to be a part of that important conversation.”

At BYES, we recognise the importance of having a diverse workforce to foster an inclusive culture. Not only are we committed to championing gender equality in what is known as a male-dominated industry, but also leveraging the key role we play to help combat outdated stereotypes and raise awareness on the fantastic career opportunities available within the built environment.

A great way to do this is by profiling females in the business, and today in support of INWED, we shared a short ‘day in the working life’ video of Ayca Celebi, a Project Manager at one of BYES’ FM contracts, Central Middlesex Hospital. She discussed what her day as a woman in engineering looks like, what makes her role rewarding and why women should consider a career in engineering.

With an ever-expanding industry that is struggling with a skills shortage, we understand more than ever why diversity in the workplace matters and are fully committed to helping bridge this gap by changing those perceptions and continuing to embrace gender balance for improved representation of women across the industry.

Fabienne Viala, Chair of Bouygues Energies & Services UK, concluded: “At Bouygues Construction, it is our ambition to ensure everyone has a voice and that our women feel valued and empowered. When all our employees feel comfortable being who they are in our workplaces, is when we can provide the best service to our clients and partners.”