How we can pave the way for the younger generation of women in STEM

Olivia Hay

Graduate Electrical Engineer, H&MV Engineering

Amie Hawkins

Electrical Engineer, H&MV Engineering

Actively addressing both educational and professional biases and promoting diversity and inclusion, a global engineering firm is setting the standard for the next generation of women in STEM.

The percentage of female electrical engineers in Ireland is 12% while, in the rest of Europe, it is 8%. H&MV Engineering, a leading global provider of specialist design, engineering and construction services operating worldwide with offices in Ireland, the UK, Europe and Asia, is harnessing the skillset of female engineers in all of their international offices. Electrical engineers Olivia Hay and Amie Hawkins discuss their role and challenges for school-aged children and consider what is being done to level the playing field.

Engineering awareness in schools

“I have friends who would have made amazing engineers, but they didn’t get told about these roles,” says Hay. As natural problem solvers, curious, and practically minded, both Hay and Hawkins discuss the fact that engineering classes were not offered to girls at their respective schools.

“I go to secondary schools to speak to them about engineering as a woman, and many now understand what an engineer is, making these roles much more accessible,” explains Hay. “We were told ‘it will be hard and male-dominated,’ which might make young girls shy away, but times are changing,” adds Hawkins.

Addressing educational and professional biases

Hay discusses the company’s mission to address this disparity in roles. “I feel appreciated as an engineer, but also as a female trying to change the status quo,” she says. “I am regularly asked to go to women in STEM events and was invited to take part in the diversity and inclusion hiring. H&MV recognises that I have a voice and I can help to address these biases.”

They insist that you don’t need to excel in everything to become an engineer. You just need to be passionate. “You don’t need to fit into a box; engineers think outside of the box, so why fit into one?” remarks Hay.

Career growth opportunities

With paid training and development opportunities, effective leadership and an encouraged work-life balance, Hay and Hawkins are passionate about how their careers can develop within the company. “I’m surrounded by so much knowledge and experience. They are interested in my development,’ says Hawkins.

H&MV is currently working internationally on mission-critical hyperscale data centre projects, renewables on wind farms, solar and battery storage, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.