WES Regional Clusters

Bringing WES to women where they live, work and study ‍

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The WES Regional Clusters are our UK‑wide groups which aim to bring WES closer to women in engineering in place — meeting them where they are, recognising the realities of modern careers, and strengthening support across local engineering ecosystems.

Women often need access to opportunities in the regions where they already live and work, and many engineers work in one region while living in another. Our Regional Clusters are designed to reflect this, ensuring WES is present, visible and relevant to all women in engineering, wherever they are in the UK.

Why being Regionally present matters

Engineering is deeply regional. Industries cluster, universities anchor local ecosystems, and opportunities vary across the UK. For women in engineering, this regional context matters:

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Access

Many women need access to opportunities close to home due to social constraints or community ties.

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Support

Engineering roles are not evenly distributed across the UK — regional support helps level access.

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Opportunities

Local networks and partnerships can unlock opportunities that national programmes alone cannot reach.

By working regionally, WES can better understand and respond to what women engineers need in their own context.

Working in Partnership

Our Regional Clusters collaborate closely with:

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Local and regional government bodies

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Partner organisations across engineering sectors - SMEs, mid‑sized companies and corporates

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Peer organisations, including the Royal Academy of Engineering, who share our commitment to strengthening regional support for women in engineering

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Partner universities

We are grateful to work alongside these partners to bring a more regionally attuned focus to the needs of women in engineering careers and industries.

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Who can join

You don’t need to join a Regional Cluster to attend events in any region — all WES events are advertised openly to members. This ensures activities are accessible whether you live in a region, work there, or are simply passing through.

If you’re interested in supporting a Regional Cluster as a volunteer, please contact membership@wes.org.uk with the region you’d like to be involved in. We’ll add you to the relevant volunteer group so you can help deliver regional activities.

Find your Regional Cluster

Our Regions are aligned to the ONS classifications for the UK. If you let us know that you are interested in joining the volunteer team in a particular region, please let us know via membership@wes.org.uk.

If you’d like to get involved or explore partnership opportunities at an organisational or campaign level, please contact partners@wes.org.uk.

Become a WES Member