Close Menu
  • News
  • Home
  • In Profile
  • Finance
  • Legal
  • Technology
  • Events
  • Features
  • Wellbeing & Mental Health
  • Marketing
  • HR & Recruitment
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
Trending
  • Putting information security first is your first step to building digital trust.
  • Why the crackdown on late payments could be a turning point for SMEs
  • MPs bring Google training to regions outside London
  • Nearly Half of London Start-Ups Unfamiliar with Tax Obligations, New Analysis Reveals
  • AI isn’t just for the big players: How SMEs can effectively leverage AI
  • UK Businesses Are Suffering From The Tariff Turmoil
  • How employers can help LGBTQIA+ employees thrive
  • Meeting Overload: A symptom of a bigger problem?
X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
SME Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
  • News
  • Home
  • In Profile
  • Finance
  • Legal
  • Technology
  • Events
  • Features
  • Wellbeing
  • Marketing
  • HR & Recruitment
SME Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
You are at:Home»News»Why I’m Rooting For Female Engineers
Claire Watson - Managing Director at Airmatic and her team

Why I’m Rooting For Female Engineers

0
Posted By sme-admin on June 28, 2022 News

Claire Watson – Managing Director at Airmatic, gives us her thoughts  and insights after this years International Women In Engineering Day 

 There are more women in engineering roles: 

Recent data shows that around 16.5% of engineers are women, a 2% growth since the INWED Impact Report 2021 was published. 

Whether it is an administrative, managerial or technical focus, statistics show that jobs in the engineering sector can often be overlooked by school leavers and women looking for a career change. 

My name is Claire Watson and I’m the Director of Bury-based ductwork and fabrications company, Airmatic. After this years International Women In Engineering Day, I want to reflect on my own experiences, give food for thought and raise awareness in whatever way I can. 

As women, there are still some obstacles in our way: Claire Watson - Managing Director at Airmatic

I have worked for Airmatic for over ten years, where we offer premium and bespoke environmental solutions for challenging workspaces through our ductwork and fabrications expertise. I became a Managing Director two years ago and now oversee the site’s day-to-day activities, focusing on levelling up our digital marketing strategy. 

In the not-so-distant past during my career in engineering, there were several occasions when I would pick up the phone to help with an enquiry, and the person would ask to speak with a man instead. 

I would be lying if I didn’t admit to feeling conflicted and confused when looking back on these exchanges, which have lessened over time, as I have stellar role models and cheerleaders of different genders that root for my success and have never insinuated that my gender is a weakness. 

With the above in mind, it recently occurred to me that I have never received a CV from a female engineer for any openings at Airmatic. As the only woman that sits as an Executive Member in the Association Of Ductwork Contractors & Allied Services (ADCAS), this motivated me to think of ways to try and make a difference in our internal statistics and the boards and partnerships that Airmatic is involved with. 

We are successful in engineering roles: 

In the 1970s, my auntie was the first draftswomen in her place of work. She became my inspiration to thrive in this industry from a young age. Her success was a constant reminder that challenging stereotypes in engineering were possible and that I could build a successful career as a woman in engineering. 

Fast forward to 2022, and I’m the first woman to become a Managing Director at Airmatic. The role is rewarding, challenging and full of potential. After recently completing an Oxford University course in Leadership, my eyes are open to the many existing and future opportunities available to Airmatic. 

With the help of our team, I steered the Airmatic brand’s relaunch, built upon yesterday’s expert knowledge to recruit tomorrow’s forward-thinking talent, which was a massive milestone in my career. Airmatic

Let’s inspire the female talent of tomorrow: 

As women in engineering, our voices should be loud enough for young women and those searching for a rewarding career to hear. Awareness days such as International Women in Engineering Day are a vital part of this, where we can come together to shine a light on our ability and innovation. 

I have made an application to become a mentor through The Girls Network, a charity that supports young women through their all-important journey to maximise their ambitions and reach their career potential. By doing this, I hope to share my experiences and encourage those I speak with to consider engineering as a career path. 

Alongside this, we will be hosting an Airmatic open day for local secondary schools in the Greater Manchester area on the 7th of July, aligning with UK National Manufacturing Day. The positive action in the local community means a great deal to us, and we hope that young women of school leaving age will take inspiration from our numerous activities and maybe even see their future potential. 

We can thrive together: 

My preparation for this International Women in Engineering Day was an an enlightening experience that has paved the way for my future efforts to support fellow women in the industry. I aim to introduce more female figures to ADCAS, where like-minded people of all genders can exchange ideas and grow together. 

I’ll be starting a recruitment search for the talent of tomorrow, liaising with Apprenticeship UK and other government schemes to raise awareness of career and growth opportunities within the industry. 

I would love to expand my network and welcome any fellow women in engineering to get in touch so we can learn from each other and make a difference. Our voices are louder together, so let’s do our part to increase the 16.5% statistic in time for International Woman In Engineering Day 2023.

 Claire Watson – Managing Director at Airmatic 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairewatsonairmatic 

Airmatic

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

MPs bring Google training to regions outside London

UK Businesses Are Suffering From The Tariff Turmoil

Dementia Advocate Shares Tips For Supporting People With Dementia When Flying

Comments are closed.

Follow SME Today on Linkedin and share all the topics you find interesting
ISO/IEC 27001 roadmap: A practical guide for UK SMEs
ISO/IEC 27001 roadmap: A practical guide for UK SMEs
Are you a Company Director?
Are you a Company Director - Verify your identity
Personal Pension offer
Events Calendar
    • Marketing
    September 9, 2025

    SEO 101 for SMBs: Reaching Customers with the Right Visuals

    August 29, 2025

    OneMetric forms strategic partnership with RevOps expert to drive UK growth

    • Finance
    September 16, 2025

    Why the crackdown on late payments could be a turning point for SMEs

    September 15, 2025

    Nearly Half of London Start-Ups Unfamiliar with Tax Obligations, New Analysis Reveals

    • People
    September 11, 2025

    New Chief Revenue Officer joins CBS to drive strategic growth

    August 14, 2025

    A Life Worth Saving – A Tribute to Dame Stephanie Shirley CH, 1933–2025

    • Health & Safety
    September 2, 2025

    1 in 3 employees anxious about lack of first aiders at work

    July 1, 2025

    Temperatures Soaring: Is Your Workplace Becoming Unsafe?

    • Events
    September 9, 2025

    Nominations for the 2026 Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot open

    July 22, 2025

    South West Expo Delivers Outstanding Event at Swindon’s STEAM Museum

    • Community
    July 11, 2025

    Building community, one cause at a time

    June 23, 2025

    Celebrating One Year In Fairford Supporting The Community

    • Food & Drink
    August 22, 2025

    How to get stocked by major retailers as an SME

    July 18, 2025

    Warning to Small Businesses Over New Food Waste Regulations

    • Books
    September 3, 2025

    New book on conquering fear of public speaking

    August 7, 2025

    Learning to Leave a Legacy in Business

    The Newsletter

    Join our mailing list for the best SME stories, handpicked and delivered direct to your inbox every two weeks!

    Sign Up
    About

    SME Today is published by the same team who deliver The Great British Expos’. We have been organising various corporate events for the last 10 years, with a strong track record of producing well managed and attended business events across the UK.

    Join Our Mailing List

    Receive the latest news and updates from SMEToday.
    Read our Latest Newsletter:


    Sign Up
    X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    Categories
    • Books
    • Community & Charity
    • Education and Training
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Features
    • Finance
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Safety
    • HR & Recruitment
    • In Profile
    • Legal
    • Marketing
    • News
    • People
    • Property & Development
    • Sponsored Content
    • Technology
    • Transport & Tourism
    • Wellbeing & Mental Health
    • ABOUT SME TODAY: THE GO TO RESOURCE FOR UK BUSINESSES
    • Editorial Submission Guidelines
    • Privacy
    • Contact
    Copyright © 2025 SME Today.
    • ABOUT SME TODAY: THE GO TO RESOURCE FOR UK BUSINESSES
    • Editorial Submission Guidelines
    • Privacy
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.