In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), Enginuity, the charity dedicated to closing the skills gap in engineering and manufacturing, proudly acknowledges and celebrates the contributions of women engineers across the UK. By spotlighting inspiring stories and achievements of female engineers, Enginuity aims to encourage more women to pursue careers in engineering, thereby bridging the gender gap in this traditionally male-dominated field. This celebration is part of a broader campaign to highlight the significance of women in engineering, encouraging a future where engineering is a career path open to all, regardless of gender. The story of Davina Kaur is the perfect example.
Davina's path into engineering is full of inspiration and perseverance. Her story is especially notable because at the age of 19, she received double recognition at the 2021 Enginuity Skills Awards for her exceptional contributions and achievements as SME Apprentice of the Year and Best of British Engineering Award winner. The awards recognised Davina’s inspirational personal and professional transformation through her apprenticeship and celebrated her commitment to the manufacturing sector as an ambassador for STEM careers and apprenticeships.
Davina discovered her passion for electronics while working for an automation company. After moving back home to be closer to her family, she landed her first role with Rolls-Royce as an Electronics Manufacturing Technician. Since then, she has completed her Higher National Certificate (HNC), is about to complete her Higher National Diploma (HND) and has been promoted to an Electronics Operations Test Assurance Engineer.
She is involved in Lean Manufacturing projects focused on process improvements, and she enjoys diagnosing failures in production electronics tests. Her work spans a wide range of products, and the variety of challenges ensures that no two days are the same. "I love the variability offered in my role. It's rare that I have a day just sat at my desk," she shares.
Striving for new challenges has always been a key motivator for Davina. Her personal accomplishments, such as completing a skydive in 2020 and the Virgin London Marathon in 2021 for NSPCC, reflect her drive. Professionally, she has taken on rigorous educational challenges, completing her HNC with distinction while working full-time shifts. She is now focused on achieving similar success with her HND and plans to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Her efforts have been recognised by Rolls-Royce, providing her with valuable opportunities and a promising career path.
Davina encourages women who are undecided about pursuing engineering or an apprenticeship to embrace the opportunities that come their way. She emphasises that uncertainty about the future should not deter one from trying. "If something doesn't work out, there is nothing wrong in retrieving and going at it again with more resources," she advises. Her own journey underscores the importance of resilience and perseverance in achieving one's goals.
Enginuity's celebration of International Women in Engineering Day is a call to action for all women who aspire to make a difference in the engineering sector. By sharing stories like Davina’s, Enginuity hopes to inspire more women to consider engineering as a viable and rewarding career option. If you’re inspired by Davina’s journey and are interested in exploring opportunities in engineering, we invite you to join the movement.
Visit our landing page to learn more about how you can participate, share your story, and connect with others who are passionate about engineering. Together, we can create a more inclusive and dynamic future for engineering.
Celebrate, inspire, and be a part of the change. Happy International Women in Engineering Day!
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