The Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering awards celebrate outstanding initiatives, individuals and organisations that are working to empower women in construction and engineering.

Dr Nortcliffe has been nominated in the Contribution to gender Equality category which recognises inspirational people who have ‘gone above and beyond to promote gender diversity through their own work’.

Since joining Canterbury Christ Church University and becoming founding Head of School for Engineering, Technology and Design, Dr Nortcliffe has played an instrumental role in the development of the School of as an inclusive, diverse and industry engaged learning environment. Anne’s expertise and commitment has driven a change in how the University and partner employers recruit inclusive engineers, actively addressing the engineering and technology skills gap in the south east.

Actively participating in the University’s outreach activities, with focus on the South-East STEM Hub activities, Anne and her team have helped to support a collective effort across the region to increase the number of students studying for STEM key stage-5 (A’levels) in Kent and Medway since 2017, against a backdrop of a national decline. A true success story in Kent and Medway is the increase in females taking up Computer Science (5-fold increase) and 1.8-fold increase in the uptake of Physics A’level, key subject for progression to Engineering, Technology and Design subjects at the University.

Recognising that female role models matter as an inspiration for achievement and progression for female students, the current School education team is 41% female. This has been achieved through promoting inclusive HR practices and recruitment, promoting flexible working and returning to work career opportunities. Educating her team on gender/cultural applicant complexities and unconscious bias, addressing short-listing biases and ensured inclusive applicant assessment job related exercises and interview process.

The School’s new facilities have also been researched and designed to be inclusive, and the University’s new multi-million pound STEM building has been named after a local trailblazing female engineer, inventor, entrepreneur and first female member of IMechE, Verena Holmes The School’s current student population is 16% female.

The awards are a joint initiative by Construction News and New Civil Engineer to champion the role of women in construction and engineering across a programme of activity this year. The Awards evening take place Thursday, 6 October 2022.