“We can’t truly make leaps in innovation without multiple perspectives and crucially the female perspective,” says Sarah.
While the engineering sector continues its drive for greater representation, with 2021 figures showing only 16.5% of engineers in the UK are women, stories of professionals like Sarah Ward-Wheeler, Programme Manager at Hyperbat, provide inspiration for forging successful careers.
Sarah’s journey into engineering began at university, where she studied Aerospace Engineering. “I was fortunate enough to be sponsored following an industrial placement year that meant once I graduated I went straight into an engineering job at Rolls Royce, as a Manufacturing Engineer,” she recalled. Her career path then saw her move into project engineering within aerospace, with roles at major companies such as Meggitt, before she joined Unipart in 2019 as a Project Engineer.
Today, Sarah’s role as a Programme Manager at Hyperbat, a joint venture between Unipart and Fortescue Zero delivering high-performance battery systems, involves leading a cross-functional team dedicated to delivering customer projects. Beyond her core responsibilities, she’s also deeply committed to fostering a supportive workplace as a Mental Health First Aider, First Aider, and Employee Forum Chair.
Entering an industry where diversity was visibly lacking Sarah initially held some apprehension. She explained: “Having already experienced a lack of diversity at university where I was one of only 10 women in my year intake out of almost 120, I thought it would be more difficult to break into engineering and, on top of that, to be taken seriously in a position of leadership.
“Fortunately, I haven’t encountered nearly as many struggles as I thought and have personally found that women are being treated better in recent years – I hope this is a continuing trend.”
The theme for International Women in Engineering Day 2025 is #TogetherWeEngineer, a concept Sarah wholeheartedly embraces. “Collaboration is the foundation for fantastic ideas and growth,” she said. “We can’t truly make leaps in innovation without multiple perspectives and crucially the female perspective.”
When asked what can be done to improve the number of women in engineering beyond the 16.5% mark, Sarah emphasised early intervention and engagement. “Supporting STEM engagement at a younger age, and particularly female-targeted STEM activities,” she suggests, along with “volunteering and speaking engagements. I have visited my old school and spoken about my experiences in engineering.”
Her advice to young women and girls considering a career in engineering is clear and compelling: “Engineering and the technology landscape is changing so rapidly, and to keep up, we need as many young people to be interested in engineering. Why not women? Imagine how much more could be accomplished if the representation was closer to 50%.”
Carol Rose Burke, Managing Director – Design, Manufacturing and Engineering at Unipart, added: “Seeing talented engineers like Sarah thrive at Unipart is more than inspiring, it’s a reminder of why diverse representation is essential in shaping the future of engineering.
“At Unipart, we’re committed to creating inclusive environments where women don’t just join the industry, but lead it. Through initiatives like the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, our long-standing collaboration with Coventry University provides a direct pathway from degree to career. We’re helping open doors for the engineers of today, and those of tomorrow.”