23 June 2025
International Women in Engineering Day
Happy International Women in Engineering Day. Today, we celebrate the talented women who are leading the way in innovation, craftsmanship, and leadership throughout the engineering industry - including those making a remarkable impact here at Vintage Bentley.
We asked Ellen, our CNC Machinist, to share her insights on what it's like to be a woman working in the engineering industry.
What does your current role involve?
My role at Vintage Bentley is a CNC machinist, which contributes to the making of vintage Bentley parts. My favourite thing about the job is making something out of nothing and seeing where it goes once it comes off the machine.
Are there any tools or trends you're excited about?
I’m interested in 3D printing, the things that you can do with it and the different materials that can be used to create parts. Having done a small amount of 3D printing at college it is surprising what you can do with them and how they work.
Do you have any advice for young women considering a role in engineering?
It is hard but not taking negative interactions to heart helps. Often, it is because people are not used to women being in the same field as them and being capable at doing the same job. Be confident in what you know, what you can do and not letting other people tell you otherwise.
Have you faced any obstacles in what is a male dominated field, and if so, what strategies or support systems have you developed?
There have been some struggles with being in this environment. Mainly people not treating you the same no matter what you do, which is something that can be resolved with a conversation. It will make people realise you can perform as everyone else but sometimes this approach hasn’t worked.
We continue to work collaboratively on ensuring the future of engineering is diverse and inclusive, with both ladies and gents creating leading teams. It is our responsibility to create opportunities, offer mentorship, and encourage the next generation of women to pursue careers in STEM. We celebrate all the incredible women breaking new ground in engineering - thank you for leading the way.
