WOMEN IN CIVIL ENGINEERING SURVEYING: PROGRESS, CHALLENGES AND THE PATH FORWARD

LtoR: Sam Knott, director, Site Surveying Services; Farah Rafeeq, student, Alder Grange School, Rawtenstall and CICES president, Alison Watson MBE. 

You’ve been at the forefront of trying to bring awareness of civil engineering surveying to students. What are the most effective strategies you’ve found to engage young people, especially girls, who may not have considered surveying as a viable career option?

One of the biggest barriers to increasing diversity in surveying is the simple fact that most young people – and especially girls – are never introduced to it as a viable career. COYO’s Design Engineer Construct! (DEC) programme makes surveying more visible and accessible in schools by including it at every level. That way, children and young people grow up knowing that it’s a critical profession and needed on every project, big and small.

One of the most effective ways to engage students is through hands-on learning. When young people are given the opportunity to use cutting-edge surveying technology, map out their own infrastructure projects, or work on real-life local issues, such as this year’s ‘nature-based solutions’ challenge, they begin to see the profession as something exciting and relevant to their world. This kind of experiential learning not only sparks interest but also builds confidence in young women who may have never considered themselves suited to a technical career.

Teachers also play a crucial role in this process. If educators are not aware of the opportunities in surveying, they cannot pass that knowledge on to their students. By working directly with schools and helping teachers to introduce surveying concepts in DEC and other STEM subjects, we can create an environment where careers in the built environment are seen as just as aspirational as medicine, law or finance.

Representation also matters. If girls never see women in these roles, they are less likely to imagine themselves in them. We need to highlight female surveyors who are shaping the industry and give them platforms to share their stories with young people.

Representation also matters. If girls never see women in these roles, they are less likely to imagine themselves in them. We need to highlight female surveyors who are shaping the industry and give them platforms to share their stories with young people.

When surveying is presented as a career that is innovative, impactful and open to everyone, more girls will begin to see themselves in it. I’m currently supporting Clara Brand, one of our past DEC students. She reminds me a lot of my young self and is really excited to progress into the sector. Here’s why…

 Clara Brand, former DEC student.

“I’m Clara, a former DEC student from King Ecgbert School in Sheffield. When I’m not hiking, I’m camping. The outdoors is and always has been, a huge part of my life. I am keen to make it a big part of my career. Geospatial surveying provides this outdoor, hands on aspect and has so many applications. It’s such a big topic and encompasses so many roles and techniques. The broadness of the profession means there’s a lot to explore. I think for me at this point, it is about getting as much experience in a range of geospatial aspects as possible - to find out what I like and what I am interested in. I am lucky to have been connected to Alison, by Helen Vardy, my amazing teacher of the DEC course, where I discovered more about surveying.

Through Alison, I have had the pleasure of meeting Mark Hudson, CEO Geoterra and I’m looking forward to gaining some work experience in his very specialist area of the sector. Thanks to her Australian contact Matt Thomas at Aptella, I also have plans to join Saunders Havill in Brisbane for some more work experience in the coming months, during my gap year.

In a male-dominated field, I believe it’s important to show young women what a range of careers are out there. Show us everything. This is why I chose geospatial. I can be literally ‘out in the field’, which makes it a perfect place for me to begin. Women don’t have to work 9-5 desk jobs – we can get our boots and hard hats on too.”

What do you think the industry needs to do to ensure women are not only entering the profession but are also supported and empowered to rise into leadership positions?

Attracting women into civil engineering surveying is only half the battle; keeping them in the profession and ensuring they have equal opportunities to progress is where the real challenge lies! Too often, women enter the industry full of ambition and potential, only to find themselves overlooked for promotions or sidelined due to outdated workplace cultures. The industry needs to move beyond simply ‘welcoming’ women and start actively removing the barriers that prevent them from advancing into leadership.

One of the biggest issues remains the lack of flexibility in many engineering and surveying roles. Women are still more likely to have care-giving responsibilities and if the industry does not offer flexible working options, it will continue to lose talented professionals. I have first-hand experience; I had my baby (now 21!), just as a major contract was kicking off, ironically, the UK Government’s Building Schools for the Future programme which led me to setting up COYO.

It was really hard, juggling motherhood with running a survey firm and thankfully I had a very understanding and supportive husband. I had to be employer, leader, negotiator, surveyor, a wife and a mother, all at the same time.

I remember my late father-in-law telling me I should be at home, getting my husband’s tea ready and caring for my child. He was a really lovely man, but I think it’s the one time I told him politely where to go! But the guilt was horrible to deal with. I did some stupid hours around the clock, just to be at home as quickly as possible and looking back, it’s a wonder I kept sane, never mind awake!

Women in engineering fields still earn less than their male counterparts and unless companies take a transparent approach to pay equity, this will continue to be a deterrent for many.

Pay disparity is another issue that cannot be ignored. Women in engineering fields still earn less than their male counterparts and unless companies take a transparent approach to pay equity, this will continue to be a deterrent for many. Beyond workplace policies, there is also a need for structured leadership development programmes that actively sponsor and advocate for women in the profession. It’s not enough to simply provide mentorship; senior leaders – both male and female – must be willing to champion female talent, ensuring that women are given opportunities to lead high-profile projects and take on decision-making roles. True progress will only be made when gender equality in leadership is no longer a discussion point, but a given.

How can we better align industry professionals and educational institutions/professional bodies to create more opportunities for women to connect with mentors and real-world projects?

One of the most powerful ways to encourage more women into civil engineering surveying is to create direct connections between education and industry. Too often, there is a disconnect between what is taught in schools and what employers need and this is where many young women – who might have been interested in surveying – fall through the cracks. We need stronger partnerships between industry professionals, educational institutions and professional bodies to ensure that students, particularly young women, have access to mentors, work experience and real-world projects that bring the profession to life.

Embedding surveying into the school curriculum is one way to achieve this, but it must be supported by industry involvement. Companies should be engaging with schools, offering guest lectures, interactive site visits and structured mentorship programmes that allow students to build relationships with professionals. Networking opportunities also need to be more accessible; too often, these are geared towards university graduates, leaving out young women who might be considering apprenticeships or alternative routes into the profession. Government support is crucial here, too. Investment in specialist teachers (like Helen Vardy!), digital education, technical apprenticeships and school-to-work transition programmes will play a vital role in ensuring that young women not only discover surveying but have a clear pathway into the industry.

Balancing leadership roles with advocacy for education is most likely a challenging task. What advice do you have for other women looking to balance their professional goals with the mission to make education more inclusive and accessible for future generations of engineering surveyors?

Balancing leadership with advocacy is undoubtedly challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. For women in the profession who want to make a difference, the key is to recognise that leadership and advocacy are not separate pursuits; they are deeply interconnected. When women rise to leadership positions, they have the power to influence policy, mentor young talent and drive cultural change within their organisations.

Advocacy for education and inclusion should not be seen as an extra responsibility – it’s an essential part of leadership. It is also important to build a strong support network. No one can drive change alone and having a community of like-minded professionals, both male and female, can make all the difference.

Time management is crucial and so is knowing when to delegate. There is often a pressure on women in leadership to take on too much, but real impact comes from focusing on what will make the greatest difference. Above all, never lose sight of why this work matters. Education is the foundation of a diverse and inclusive profession and the more we invest in young people – and critically those who teach them, the stronger our industry will be.

Alison Watson MBE FCInstCES, CICES President, was talking to Tehya Bruce Allen, CICES Communications and Engagement Officer
president@cices.org
https://designengineerconstruct.com/design-nature/