Between 2019 and 2020, Gratte Brothers actively championed women in engineering through a series of initiatives, partnerships, and celebrations aimed at addressing gender imbalance within the industry. We demonstrated our commitment by promoting careers in engineering to young women, supporting female employees in their professional development, and engaging with industry-wide efforts to foster inclusivity.
Partnering with the Women’s Engineering Society | 31.01.2019
In January 2019, we proudly announced our corporate partnership with the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) in its centenary year. WES, a charity and professional network, provided support, inspiration, and development opportunities for women in engineering. Our HR Director, David Gratte, emphasised our dedication to fostering gender diversity, recognising WES’s efforts in raising engineering’s profile among young women. Through this partnership, we committed to contributing to industry-wide efforts to increase female participation and career progression. We also looked forward to attending the WES Centenary Conference in March.
Gratte Brothers Promotes Women in Engineering | 21.02.2019
In February 2019, our staff participated in The Royal Masonic School for Girls Apprenticeship Evening. Our team presented various career opportunities within the company, highlighting available apprenticeships, internships, and graduate programmes. At the time, we employed 20 Trade Apprentices, three Trainee Project Engineers, and an Estimating Apprentice, reinforcing our commitment to developing diverse talent pipelines. Recognising the industry’s gender imbalance, we placed a strong emphasis on school engagement and recruitment channel expansion to attract more women into engineering roles.
Gratte Brothers Attends Centenary Conference for Women in Engineering | 22.03.2019
In March 2019, we attended the Women’s Engineering Society Annual Conference, marking 100 years since WES was founded. The event reflected on the progress of women in STEM and highlighted the importance of female engineers in shaping the industry’s future.
Gratte Brothers Celebrates International Women in Engineering Day | 20.06.2019
In June 2019, we actively participated in International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), recognising the invaluable contributions of women engineers. We supported the global campaign by highlighting career opportunities available to women in engineering. This event reinforced our ongoing commitment to promoting gender balance within the industry.
International Women in Engineering Day 2020 | 22.06.2020
By 2020, we expanded our efforts for INWED by sharing stories from female employees who played crucial roles across the Group, particularly in adapting to the challenges of COVID-19.
Electrical Project Manager, Clair, managed large-scale electrical projects, coordinating teams and ensuring compliance with safety standards. Despite the challenges posed by remote work, Clair maintained regular communication through scheduled meetings and innovative solutions such as using photos and video footage for client approvals.
Systems Engineer Megan ensured that IT systems remained operational, enabling staff to work securely from home. With some team members furloughed, she prioritised essential work and occasionally visited the office to maintain critical systems. Despite the transition to remote working, she and her colleagues successfully upheld business continuity.
Continued Commitment to Gender Diversity
We remain as dedicated as ever to challenging gender disparities in engineering. The Group’s focus on school outreach, targeted recruitment efforts, and employee development initiatives underscore our long-term commitment to creating a more inclusive workforce. Through partnerships, advocacy, and real-world support for female engineers, we are actively contributing to shaping a more diverse and equitable industry.