Building a Diverse Workforce in Engineering

The engineering industry is facing a significant challenge. As demand for technical skills continues to grow, organisations across rail and engineering must attract, develop and retain talent from the widest possible pool.

Creating a diverse workforce is not simply about meeting targets. It is about building stronger teams, bringing together different perspectives and experiences, and creating an environment where people can contribute, develop and succeed.

At Encompass Engineering, we believe that diversity strengthens innovation and helps businesses respond more effectively to the complex challenges faced by modern engineering projects. Diverse teams bring different ways of thinking, improve problem-solving and contribute to better outcomes for customers and stakeholders alike.

Looking Beyond Traditional Talent Pools

Historically, engineering has faced challenges in attracting individuals from a broad range of backgrounds, particularly women and underrepresented groups. Addressing this challenge requires a long-term commitment to creating opportunities, supporting career development and ensuring engineering remains an attractive and accessible profession.

At Encompass Engineering, diversity and inclusion form an important part of our approach to recruitment and workforce development. Today, 33% of our workforce is female, while 26% of our employees come from non-British backgrounds, reflecting the value we place on building teams with a wide range of perspectives and experiences.

Supporting Long-Term Career Development

Building a diverse workforce is about more than recruitment. It is equally important to provide opportunities for people to develop their skills and build rewarding careers.

Through our Graduate Framework, we invest in the development of early-career engineers, providing structured support, mentoring and training to help individuals progress within the industry. By creating clear development pathways, we aim to help build the next generation of engineering talent while supporting long-term career growth.

Supporting the Future of Rail Skills

The skills challenge facing the rail industry cannot be solved by employers alone. Collaboration between industry and education is essential to ensure training programmes continue to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving sector.

As an active member of the Derby College Rail Skills Board, Encompass Engineering works alongside education providers and industry partners to support the development of future engineering talent and help strengthen skills across the rail sector.

Building a Stronger Industry

A diverse, skilled and inclusive workforce benefits everyone. It helps attract new talent into engineering, supports innovation and ensures businesses have the capability needed to meet future challenges.

At Encompass Engineering, we remain committed to investing in people, supporting skills development and creating opportunities that contribute to a stronger and more sustainable engineering industry.