WISE has supported UWE Bristol with a project designed to improve the gender diversity of their STEM/Engineering Degree Apprenticeship programmes. By creating a My Skills My Life bespoke pack and training to deliver the resource, UWE Bristol hopes to inspire even more women to consider apprenticeships in the sector.
UWE Bristol partnered with WISE to use our expertise, resources and networks to enhance their apprenticeship programmes and foster diversity and inclusion in engineering, construction, digital and other key sectors.
About UWE Bristol
UWE Bristol has seen huge success over the past few years through their Women Like Me mentoring and outreach programme. They have seen a significant rise in female applicants to their STEM/engineering apprenticeship programmes, with women making up 37% of applications in 2024/25, compared to 20% the previous year. Last year, UWE Bristol secured additional funding from the Office for Students (OfS) to build on this work, which focuses on their degree apprenticeships such as Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Cyber Security and Product Design.
Investing in outreach: My Skills My Life
WISE provided UWE Bristol with My Skills My Life training and additional resources to equip their past and present apprenticeship cohorts to deliver My Skills My Life workshops to local schools, community groups and at events across the region.
Alongside this, we are currently working with UWE Bristol to develop a bespoke My Skills My Life Apprenticeship pack, featuring current and previous UWE apprentices. This resource can be used during My Skills My Life sessions to highlight the diverse opportunities within apprenticeships and showcase the incredible role models who entered STEM through the same apprenticeship route.
“At UWE Bristol we are delighted to partner with WISE to inspire more women to consider STEM apprenticeships. By highlighting real role models and providing accessible resources, we are helping young people see that these career pathways are open to them and achievable.”
Sarah Behenna, Research Associate
Sharing good practice
As a committed WISE member, UWE Bristol understands the importance of inclusive best practice across the sector. They are keen to share what they have learnt through their programmes and training.
On 27 January 2026, we will be hosting a joint event with UWE Bristol which is open for anyone to attend. Bringing together employers, educators, and advocates, this event will explore how we can diversify STEM apprenticeships and showcase best practice in mentoring, outreach, and inclusive recruitment. You’ll get insights from UWE’s Office for Students funded Women in Industry project and hear from our panel of apprentices who will be sharing their personal experiences and ideas for change.
By attending the event, you will:
- Learn good practice from UWE Bristol researchers on how you can replicate some of their work to diversify apprenticeship programmes.
- Hear from a panel of current and previous apprentices, as they share their experiences and motivations.
- Discover how My Skills My Life can enhance your organisation’s outreach work
Useful links
- ‘Women in Industry’ wave 1 evaluation report 2024
- ‘Women Like Me’ project
- Women Apprentices in STEM – Role model booklet
- Watch a recording of this event
If you’re interested in collaborating on a similar project with WISE, please email us on wise@theiet.org.