How mentorship is opening doors for women in engineering

Maddison, tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m Maddison, an 18-year-old CNC Machinist Apprentice at Turnmill Engineering, based in the North East. I’m currently studying at Newcastle College alongside my apprenticeship. Turnmill are engineering specialists who support national and global companies with everything from product design and development to volume manufacture.

What attracted you to the world of engineering?

I’ve always been hands-on and curious about how things work. My dad’s an engineer so I grew up around it. Engineering stood out to me because it’s all about problem solving, precision and making things that matter. Once I realised I could build a career doing something practical and challenging, I knew it was the right path for me.

What does your day to day involve?

Every day is different, which I love. I spend a lot of time on the shop floor working with CNC machines. I set them up, run programs, check tolerances and learn more about the processes that go into machining high quality components. I'm also getting involved in other areas of the business to better understand the full manufacturing process like engineering design and pricing. 

What are your ambitions for the future?

Right now I’m focused on building up my skills and confidence on the shop floor, but longer term I’d love to become a lead machinist or progress into a more senior engineering role. I’m particularly interested in reverse engineering, design and innovation. Long term, I’d love to explore opportunities in the subsea sector, which has a lot in common with the automotive industry in terms of technology and innovation. Being part of a fast moving, industry really excites me.

What advice would you give to any young women thinking of a career in engineering? 

Go for it. You don’t have to know everything from day 1, you just need to be willing to learn and get stuck in. There’s loads of support available, and more women are joining the industry all the time. 

How has having a female mentor made a difference to your experience?

It’s made a huge difference. Having someone who understands what it’s like to be a woman in engineering has been really encouraging. Rachel has helped me see the bigger picture of the industry, grow my confidence and know that I’ve got someone in my corner who genuinely wants to see me succeed.

Now we find out a bit more about Rachel

I’m the Director of Truenorth, a specialist marketing consultancy for engineering and manufacturing firms in the UK. I’m also a Board Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Forum which is a regional industry body that brings together manufacturers to collaborate, learn and grow. As a passionate advocate for women in engineering and manufacturing, I champion the sector as modern, ambitious and full of opportunity – particularly for the next generation of female talent.

I actually fell into engineering by accident and I’m so glad I did! I studied Geography at Newcastle University and stayed on an extra year to do a Masters in International Politics. Being based in the North East, you quickly see how vital engineering is to the UK’s economy.

My first industry role was as a European Marketing Executive for a global battery company. From there, I moved into electrification with Hyperdrive Innovation, which designed and manufactured battery systems for major brands like JCB and Hitachi. That company was later acquired by Turntide Technologies which is backed by Robert Downey Jr. and Jeff Bezos.

What’s kept me in the industry is the pace, the purpose and the opportunity. The UK is leading the way in so many areas like automotive, aerospace, defence and rail, and the potential to drive change and be part of something future focused is incredible.

I’m here to support Maddison as she finds her feet in the industry. We’ve mapped out her short, medium and long term goals, and my role is to help her work towards them with confidence.

Newcastle College supports her on the technical side, and Turnmill Engineering provides the hands on, day to day experience. There’s often a missing piece which is that wider industry perspective. As her industry mentor I help bridge that gap by giving her exposure to the sector beyond her immediate workplace. This involves taking her to industry specific events, introducing her to people in my network and making her aware of opportunities beyond her day to day.  

Mentoring is so important in retaining women in engineering, because you can’t be what you can’t see. Engineering still lacks visible female role models, and mentoring plays a big part in changing that. It gives young women someone to look up to, someone who understands their experiences and can offer practical advice and encouragement. When you’re the only woman in a department, or even an entire company, it can feel isolating. Mentoring helps build confidence, belonging and ambition. 

There are some things that need to change to make the sector more inclusive and appealing to young women. We need to start earlier at primary school age and make sure that enthusiasm for STEM is nurtured right through to secondary and beyond. Better collaboration between education and industry is essential, and organisations like EngineeringUK are already leading the way.

In my opinion it’s more than just getting women into engineering, it’s about supporting them throughout their whole career. That means investing in development, creating inclusive cultures and building systems that support retention at all life stages, including things like parental leave and flexible working.

If I had 1 piece of advice for other women looking to become mentors in engineering? Get involved!

Mentoring isn’t about being perfect but about supporting someone because you believe in them and the bigger picture of how much better industry could be. It can be so incredibly valuable to share your experience and create space for someone else to grow. If you’ve found your way through the industry, you’ve got something valuable to offer.