Engineering, construction and skilled trades have often been viewed as male-dominated industries, but attitudes are beginning to change.
Across social media, more women are sharing their experiences of learning practical skills, completing ambitious DIY projects and building successful careers in the trades. They're challenging assumptions and encouraging others to consider opportunities they might previously have overlooked.
A recent BBC News article, “Doubters spur me on: why more women are taking up DIY”, explores this shift. Published in September 2026, it highlights women who are inspiring others through DIY content, alongside those choosing to pursue professional trade careers.
It's an encouraging development, but it also raises a bigger question for the engineering and building services industries.
If more women are discovering an interest in practical and technical work, how do we turn that interest into lasting career opportunities?
Changing Perceptions, One Project at a Time
Social media has changed the way people discover new skills and careers.
From home renovations and electrical installations to plumbing and woodworking, practical work is increasingly visible to audiences who might not previously have considered getting involved.
The BBC article highlights research from B&Q in 2024, which found that 82% of Gen Z women surveyed said seeing women undertake more complex DIY projects on social media had inspired them to do more themselves.
That matters because visibility can influence what people believe is possible, and it helps challenge the idea that these skills belong to one particular group.
Of course, home DIY and professional engineering are very different. Technical careers require appropriate training, qualifications, experience and, in many cases, specific safety competencies.
But developing an interest in practical work can be an important first step towards discovering the opportunities available within engineering and the trades.
The Numbers Show There's Still Work to Do
Despite changing attitudes, women remain significantly underrepresented in engineering.
According to EngineeringUK's 2026 workforce update, approximately 6.3 million people work in engineering and technology roles across the UK, yet women account for just 17% of that workforce.
Compare that with other occupations, where women make up approximately 56% of workers, and the difference is considerable.
The picture is even more pronounced in some skilled trades.
Research published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in 2022 reported that women accounted for approximately 1% of people working in construction trades such as plumbing, carpentry, building and electrical work at that time.
Although these figures measure different parts of the workforce and should not be directly compared, they highlight a common challenge.
There is a significant pool of potential talent that technical industries have not yet fully reached.
For employers facing the ongoing challenge of attracting and developing skilled people, broadening participation isn't simply about improving representation. It's also about making sure capable individuals aren't discouraged from entering an industry because of outdated stereotypes.Employers must consider how opportunities can reach and appeal to diverse groups of talented and capable potential candidates.
Why Representation Matters
One of the most powerful points raised in the BBC article is the importance of seeing women succeed in roles where they have traditionally been underrepresented.
For someone considering their future career, the people they see working in an industry can shape whether they imagine themselves belonging there.
EngineeringUK's research illustrates this challenge. Its 2026 women in engineering and technology dashboard reports that only 16% of girls surveyed believed engineering was a suitable career for them, compared with 44% of boys.
That difference points to the importance of career awareness, confidence and the way technical opportunities are presented. Lack of representation in careers can be a key barrier to entry – if you cant see someone who looks a bit like you in the sector, you’re less likely to be able to envision your own future in that world.
Engineering careers are also far broader than many people realise.
Within commercial building services alone, there are opportunities across heating, ventilation, air conditioning, gas engineering, electrical maintenance, refrigeration, building controls, project delivery and technical management.
These roles involve problem-solving, communication, practical skills and increasingly sophisticated technology. They're careers where people can continue learning and developing throughout their working lives.
The more clearly industries communicate that range of opportunities, the easier it becomes for people from different backgrounds to see a future within them.
From Interest to Opportunity: The Role of Apprenticeships
Changing perceptions is important, but interest needs to be supported by accessible routes into employment.
Apprenticeships provide one of those routes, allowing people to develop technical knowledge and practical experience while working towards recognised qualifications.
There are encouraging signs of progress.
EngineeringUK's latest research shows that women accounted for 20% of engineering and technology apprenticeship starts in England in 2024/25, compared with 17% in 2023/24.
However, the figures also demonstrate why continued action matters.
Women represented approximately 52% of apprenticeship starts across all subject areas in 2024/25, according to Department for Education statistics.
The difference suggests that engineering still faces particular challenges in attracting female applicants.
For employers, the opportunity is to look beyond simply offering apprenticeships and consider how those opportunities are promoted, who they reach and what support is available once someone joins.
School engagement, careers events, work experience and visible role models can all help people understand what an engineering career involves before they make important education or employment decisions.
Just as importantly, new starters need a workplace where they feel supported, respected and able to develop their skills.
What Does This Mean for Building Services?
The conversation around women in engineering is particularly relevant to the facilities management and building services sectors.
Commercial buildings depend on skilled engineers to keep essential systems operating safely and efficiently. From maintaining heating and cooling systems to managing electrical infrastructure and building controls, the work is varied, technical and essential to everyday operations.
These roles are also evolving.
Modern building services engineering increasingly combines traditional hands-on expertise with digital diagnostics, automation, energy management and data-led decision-making.
A career in the industry might begin with an engineering apprenticeship and develop into specialist technical work, project management, operational leadership or other areas of the business.
Yet the sector cannot benefit from the widest possible talent pool if potential candidates don't know these opportunities exist or don't see them as careers for people like them.
Encouraging more women into building services means making these career paths visible, explaining what the work actually involves, setting realistic expectations and creating supportive environments in which people can succeed.
It also means recognising that there is no single route into engineering. School leavers, apprentices and people considering a career change can all bring valuable skills and perspectives to the industry.
Developing the Next Generation at CMS
At CMS, we recognise the importance of investing in people and developing the engineering talent needed for the future.
Our commitment to apprenticeships is reflected in the CMS Academy, based at our Gateshead headquarters. Developed through a £2 million investment, the 20,000 sq ft facility supports practical learning and technical development.
With over 60 apprentices across the business, predominantly in engineering roles but also in departments including Administration, Finance and Data, we're committed to providing opportunities for people to develop their skills and build long-term careers.
The Academy forms part of that commitment, helping apprentices develop practical experience alongside the knowledge and confidence needed to progress.
As the wider industry works to attract more women into technical careers, investment in training and development has an important role to play.
It's not enough to encourage someone to consider engineering. Employers must also provide the training, guidance and opportunities that allow them to succeed once they enter the industry.
Learn more about the CMS Academy.
Breaking Down Barriers Starts With the Industry
The increasing visibility of women in DIY and skilled trades is a positive sign, but meaningful progress requires more than changing perceptions online.
Employers, education providers and industry organisations all have a role in making technical careers more accessible.
That means helping young people understand the opportunities available, challenging assumptions about who belongs in particular roles and ensuring recruitment processes encourage applications from people with different backgrounds and experiences.
It also means listening to women already working in engineering.
Their experiences can help employers understand what makes a workplace supportive, where barriers still exist and what needs to improve.
For someone considering a technical career, knowing that an employer values their ability, supports their development and provides genuine progression opportunities can make a significant difference.
The Future of Engineering Should Be Open to Everyone
The women featured in the BBC's recent article are helping challenge long-standing assumptions about practical skills and the trades.
Their experiences demonstrate how visibility, confidence and encouragement can inspire others to try something new.
For engineering and building services, the opportunity goes much further.
There is a need to attract and develop skilled people who can support the next generation of commercial buildings, maintain essential infrastructure and adapt to changing technologies.
That talent shouldn't be limited by traditional expectations about who an engineer or tradesperson should be.
At CMS, we're proud to invest in the next generation through apprenticeships and technical training. As an industry, we have an opportunity to make sure more people see engineering as a career they can pursue, develop in and succeed at.
Because the future of engineering isn't about who has traditionally worked in the industry. It's about making sure everyone with the skills, interest and ambition has the opportunity to be part of it.