Although new analysis shows increase of women working in engineering, we are still a long way from achieving a more balanced workforce. As reported in March 2022 by Engineering UK, women make up 16.5% of all engineers, compared to 10.5% reported in 2010 which is a 6-percentage point increase in the proportion of women in the engineering workforce. The actual number of women working in engineering roles also increased from 562,000 in 2010 to 936,000 in 2021. (Useful Statistics, WES, June 2022) 

At JCA, we are committed to championing women within our industry, which remains largely male-dominated. We are very lucky to have many incredible women working for us already and the number keeps growing. In the last few years, we have noticed an increase in the number of women applying for roles in our industry and we hope this trend continues.   

Work experience at JCA

Over the years, we have had the pleasure of hosting many work experience or placement students from a variety of local schools and colleges. Most recently, we have welcomed our first female student interested in pursuing a career in engineering. Issy, a local secondary school student, spent an afternoon touring one of our most impressive sites, Kao Data Campus in Harlow, where JCA maintains KLON-01 and is currently constructing KLON-02, a second data centre building.

While catching up with Issy to see how she enjoyed her visit to the construction site, we also spoke to Gabrielle Duncan, Assistant Project Manager at JCA, showing Issy around, to find out how she’d found her way into engineering and if there were challenges that women continue to face in this still largely male dominated industry.  

Issy, secondary school student:  

Today, I got to visit Kao Data’s completed KLON-01 data centre and KLON-02 project still in progress. I enjoyed seeing all areas of construction and engineering, especially the process in building a data centre. I learnt lots of interesting things on my visit, but the most enjoyable was seeing the switchgear in KLON-02, and generators and heat load banks in KLON-01. 

 I think it’s important for women to work in engineering because women are still stereotyped and it’s unfair. Women can do the same as men!  I want to work in engineering when I’m older because I enjoy the science behind it. 

Gabrielle Duncan, Assistant Project Manager at JCA: 

Women still face challenges in the engineering professions and tend to receive condescending or pre-judgemental opinions on their industry knowledge or expertise. I’ve always had great support from the management at JCA and I’ve learnt management and educational techniques in dealing with these issues head on. I think in the near future, condescending and inappropriate behaviour will be a thing of the past as more women join the industry! 

The most exciting thing about this job is that no day is ever the same! There is structure to days in following programmes and deadlines but there are always hurdles and surprises along the way. Another great thing is getting to be a part of multiple projects and moving around after completions. I’ve had some really interesting and different projects so far, such as a project in central London where you could see miles from the roof, and a really muddy build project from scratch! Nice to have change. 

To any girls in a school or a college who may be considering engineering as a career choice or a study option, I would say absolutely go for it. When I finished school, there was never an option or route in to engineering or construction for women. It was always the boys at school who were told about the different types of college courses or apprenticeships. I began my journey in the engineering industry with JCA, undertaking a project administration role that enabled me to gain industry knowledge whilst completing an online Health and Safety NEBOSH course (which I would highly recommend). Fast forward to 2023 and I’m currently working as an Assistant Project Manager in civil, electrical and mechanical! Us girls really can do it! 

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