Did you know that women currently make up less than 17% of the engineering workforce and around 15% of the construction workforce in the UK?
Against the backdrop of a significant skills gap in the HVAC industry, the need to address entry, progression and support for women in these sectors has never been more important.
So, to mark Women in Engineering Day (23 June), we hosted a networking and story-sharing session at the NEC in Birmingham, alongside the rapidly growing HVAC trade event, InstallerSHOW.
The session brought together professionals from across HVAC, STEM, engineering and construction to exchange insights, learn from one another and celebrate achievements.
It’s vital that we make these industries more accessible, inclusive and rewarding
Robyn Abel B2B Marketing Manager for Residential Heating
Spaces to succeed
As the Chair of the Heat Pump Association, Charlotte Lee highlighted in her opening remarks, how events like this matter because they demonstrate what’s possible.
They challenge stereotypes, help others see a path for themselves, and reinforce that these industries are spaces where women can truly belong and succeed.
It was inspiring to see so many people from across these sectors in attendance.
The first of two panel discussions explored the diverse pathways three women from Mitsubishi Electric took into the industry, and the factors that have supported them along the way.
The trio were meant to be joined by colleagues from Ireland but a 3-hour delay on their flight was a challenge that simply couldn’t be overcome!
Chalisa Ano, a pre-sales technical engineer, Joanne Lambert, commercial product manager and Joanne Crown, product marketing manager answered questions posed by Charlotte Lee.
A path into the industry
All three spoke around their path into the industry with Chalisa saying that it hadn’t been straightforward even with an integrated master’s in engineering, but she urged everyone not to give up.
Jo Lambert started as a sales administrator before moving into operations, then procurement before taking on her current role to learn more about the products and the technical side of the business.
Jo Crown explained that felt like she’d grown up in construction as her dad was a carpenter and she regularly went out with him on jobs, and her brother works in the industry too, so it was no surprise that she chose a construction-based role.
All three spoke about what had inspired them into the industry and the conversation did provide valuable reflections on what more can be done—not only to encourage more women to consider careers in HVAC, but to ensure they are supported to grow and thrive once they are in the sector.
STEM and rugby
The second panel, featuring Leicester Tigers player Grace Deane, drew powerful parallels between sport and STEM careers. From an organisational perspective, the transferability of skills between the two was clear.
As Grace noted, both environments are highly process-driven, requiring discipline, structure and resilience—qualities essential to both professional sport and engineering careers.
The discussion reinforced the importance of our newly announced partnerships with Premiership Women’s Rugby and the RPA Thrive programme.
Supporting women who pursue dual careers across sport and industries like HVAC offers real, mutual value, and I’m excited to see how our continued involvement in this area can help drive meaningful change.
Inspiring others
As a large organisation, we have a real opportunity to shine a spotlight on women in the sector.
It’s vital that we continue to challenge existing statistics and make these industries a more accessible, inclusive and rewarding place to be.
I’m proud to be part of an organisation where we can drive meaningful change—but we cannot do it alone.
I hope initiatives like this inspire others—organisations, leaders, teams and individuals alike—to use their voice, champion the sector and actively support women at every stage of their journey.
Robyn Abel is B2B Marketing Manager for Residential Heating
