Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day at Artic Building Services

Engineering is at the heart of all facilities management and at Artic Building Services, we’re celebrating the women at the centre of our engineering. As part of the campaign for International Women in Engineering Day 2025, Artic sat down with some of the women who are shaping Artic’s M&E engineering solutions to find out what engineering means to them and what their hopes are for the future of women in engineering and facilities management.

Empowering Women in Engineering

The industry of facilities management remains a male-dominated field with women making up 34% of the FM workforce and according to INWED, just 16.5% of engineers. Despite the number of women working in STEM fields gradually increasing, women are still an underrepresented group in the industry. It’s because of this that being a woman in engineering comes with its own unique challenges and can be daunting for those just starting in their careers, highlighting the importance of businesses continuing to celebrate the amazing work and innovation that women are doing within their industries, showcasing the power of a woman in engineering.

Formed by the Women’s Engineering Society, International Women in Engineering Day is in its 12^th year and for 2025 the theme is #TogetherWeEngineer. The national campaign is a vital platform for encouraging young women to consider a career in engineering and Artic in joining in by celebrating how the women at Artic work together to create and deliver dynamic engineering solutions.

5 Women Building the Future of Engineering

We asked five women at Artic some questions about what it’s like to be a woman in engineering, supporting women on the field and shaping the future of facilities management.

Nicola Bilewicz – Health & Safety Manager

What’s it like being a woman in facilities management?

Being a woman in facilities management has come with its challenges as it is a male-dominated industry, however it is very rewarding. I work with more and more people every day, as a Health & Safety Manager and I help to build risk assessments to keep our engineers safe. I would never have imagined myself doing this as a little girl, but I can honestly say I really enjoy my job.

How do you feel supported as a woman at Artic?

I think Artic is supportive of women and that the industry as a whole has progressed really far. I sit in all the committee meetings and when I share my opinions, I feel heard and listened to. I’ve had so much training to make me an expert in my field and empower me as a woman in an industry that can sometimes underestimates women’s skills, and it allowed me to move from a Junior Administrator to the Health & Safety Manager I am now.

Do you think now is a good time for women to get involved in engineering?

Now is the perfect time for women to get involved in engineering because women offer a different approach and set of skills that help build the solutions we need today. With the way the world is going, engineering is going to be the most valuable job to have and the opportunities at the moment are unlimited.

Caitlyn Gold – AC Engineer

What’s it like to be a female engineer working on site?

When working on site as an engineer, everyone is really supportive of me, I’m not treated any differently as a woman and I wouldn’t want that anyway. Sometimes on site it can be challenging because you feel more pressure to prove yourself, but its great rising up to the challenge and pushing yourself.

How do you feel supported as a woman at Artic?

Artic was really supportive when I wanted to make the switch from the office into engineering. I wanted something more hands-on and I only had what I learned from the office, but that didn’t stop them from putting me on the training I needed. During my apprenticeship, my managers and the senior engineers were super supportive and I wasn’t treated any different as a woman.

How do you support female engineers/other women in the industry?

I always attend the STEM events Artic hosts at the local schools. We have hosted them at all-girls schools in the past and I always make an effort to chat with the girls and encourage them to think about careers in engineering. We work with the RAF Sidecar team and they do a good job of explaining how engineering can be fun too, whilst we show what a great career it can be.

Charlotte Divall – Commercial Business Unit Head

What’s it like being a woman in facilities management?

Being a woman in facilities management and engineering isn’t what it used to be, it has progressed so much, but that’s not to say it can’t be so much better. You are valued now, and there is so much opportunity to grow. I started as a junior admin and I’m now a commercial business unit head, leading teams and managers across the business. It’s not strange to see a woman in leadership anymore, and it’s not strange to see a woman out on the tools either.

What would you say to a young woman looking to start a career in engineering?

I would say go for it. Women can do anything a man can do, and we have been doing it for a while now. I might be biased but I would say there’s no better place to do it than Artic. Its apprenticeship scheme is super supportive and at we have a really great community of women at Artic that uplift each other.

What are your hopes for the future of women in engineering?

I just hope that we continue to see more woman in the industry and more women out on the field. It has come so far, but I’d like to see it go even further.

Natalie Newman – Helpdesk Manager

What’s it like being a woman in facilities management?

Being a woman in facilities management now means that sometimes you walk into a meeting and there’s more women managers than men. There’s a huge supportive community of women to work with now and the opportunities are plentiful.

How do you support female engineers/other women in the industry?

Although I’m not an engineer on the field, I do my best to support the women that are. We’ve had women move from the office out onto the field and we always try to make the transition as easy as possible. The community of women at Artic is really strong and it’s because of that I can say I really enjoy my job.

How did you get to where you are now?

I didn’t even know facilities management was a thing until I started working at Artic. I’ve worked my way up to Helpdesk manager through lots of training and I love my job now. I like working closely with the engineers and being a part of the bigger picture.

Bonita Passfield-Wright – Contract Manager

What’s it like being a woman in facilities management?

It’s great. These days being an engineer or working in facilities management isn’t just about getting your hands dirty. It’s about problem-solving and making people’s lives better.

Do you think now is a good time for women to get involved in engineering?

Yeah – I think now is the best time for women to get into engineering, there’s tons of opportunity in the industry and in facilities management. I think engineers are valued now more than ever.

What are you hopes for the future of women in engineering?

My hopes are that it no longer becomes a surprise for people to see a woman in engineering and that women aren’t intimidated to pursue the career that they want.

Driving Change in Facilities Management

From hosting STEM Events to building a supportive and inclusive work culture, Artic Building Services is striving to create a diverse working environment that empowers and supports women within engineering and facilities management. Artic is committed to supporting it’s female engineers and staff, as well as working with schools in the local communities to showcase the vast opportunities available for a career in engineering and facilities management.