WES Communities Update - July 2026
Our communities are at the heart of the Women's Engineering Society. Whether through our regional networks or Special Interest Groups, members are coming together to share knowledge, build connections and shape the future of engineering. Here's a look at some of the exciting developments happening across WES:
Strengthening our regional communities
Over the past two years, WES has seen significant growth in regional activity, thanks to the dedication of our volunteer Cluster Leads. As our community continues to grow, we're taking the opportunity to evolve how our regional network is organised to ensure it remains sustainable, connected and impactful for years to come. As such we are moving from the current cluster-by-cluster model to a UK regional structure. This new approach is designed to strengthen the fantastic work already taking place locally. By bringing volunteers together into larger regional teams, we'll be able to provide greater support, encourage collaboration and create a more visible and influential WES presence across the UK, while still recognising the unique needs and strengths of local communities. Ultimately, it will enable more vibrant local events, stronger volunteer support, richer member connections and a clearer regional and national voice for WES.
Heritage Special Interest Group
The newly established Heritage Special Interest Group recently held its first meeting, bringing together members with a shared passion for preserving and celebrating the history of women in engineering. The session generated a wealth of exciting ideas, which are now being organised into a "hopper of opportunities" that members will prioritise and develop over the coming months. Early ideas include highlighting the stories of women engineers across our regions, uncovering local engineering heritage and making greater use of the Society's historic journal archive through further digitisation. It's an exciting beginning for a group with enormous potential to preserve and share the rich history of women in engineering.
Climate Emergency Group
The Climate Emergency Group (CEG) continues to explore the important role engineers play in creating a more sustainable future. To mark Earth Overshoot Day, the group has published a thought-provoking article exploring the significance of the day and the role engineering must play in reducing humanity's environmental impact. You can read the full article on the Climate Emergency Group page of the WES website.
Education Special Interest Group
The Education Special Interest Group has been progressing several initiatives designed to strengthen connections between education and industry. One exciting project currently under development aims to connect universities seeking visiting professors with experienced industry professionals, helping to increase the visibility of women in engineering within higher education. By creating more opportunities for students to engage with women working across the profession, the initiative aims to inspire future engineers while strengthening links between academia and industry.
If you want to find out more about these or any of the volunteering groups with WES then email membership@wes.org.uk