UWE Bristol is a forward-thinking university with a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. We believe that creating inclusive environments in education and industry is essential to addressing skills shortages and building a future-facing workforce in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
As part of our mission to increase diversity in STEM, we lead a range of initiatives designed to support women and underrepresented groups into and through technical education and careers. In 2024, UWE Bristol was proud to achieve an Athena Swan Silver institutional award, recognising our progress and impact in advancing gender equality across the university and in STEM disciplines.
Our work to diversify pathways into STEM includes expanding access through degree apprenticeships. A recent grant has enabled us to strengthen employer partnerships and enhance outreach, with a focus on improving representation of women in engineering and construction-related programmes. We are working closely with industry to ensure inclusive recruitment practices and to develop visible role models for future generations.
UWE Bristol also hosts Women Like Me, a nationally recognised mentoring and outreach programme for women in engineering. This initiative supports early-career women through peer mentoring and provides opportunities to inspire and engage girls in schools with STEM subjects.
We are also home to the WEST (Women in Engineering, Science and Technology) society – a student-led community supporting women students in STEM. The society helps members build networks, confidence and career aspirations through events, talks and peer support.
Another key strand of our work is the Inspire programme, which brings real-life role models into schools to talk about their careers in science and engineering. Developed in partnership with industry, the programme connects students with diverse professionals, helping to challenge stereotypes and broaden young people’s horizons around STEM futures.
Joining WISE is an important part of our commitment to creating a more diverse STEM workforce. WISE is a key partner in our efforts to diversify degree apprenticeships, collaborating with us to support employer engagement and role model outreach aimed at increasing female representation in engineering and construction industries. We believe in the power of collaboration to drive change and value the opportunity to learn from others, share good practice, and amplify the voices of women in science and engineering.
