Every year, International Women in Engineering Day (IWIED) offers an opportunity to highlight the impact of women across the engineering sector. This year, we are joining that conversation by sharing the stories of the women who support Exactaform to be the leading tool manufacturer it is today.
Women in Engineering Today
According to EngineeringUK, women represented just 15.7% of the engineering workforce in 2023, which constituted a 0.8% drop from the previous year (Engineering UK, 2024). While industry-wide efforts to improve diversity have gained momentum, hands-on manufacturing and technical roles still lack visibility.
At Exactaform, we focus on creating real opportunities for growth. The women in our team are proof that talent can be supported, and skills can be built. Today, we are proud to have exceptional women bringing precision, insight, and hands-on expertise to some of our most technical processes.
For the next generation of women and girls, we hope their stories show that engineering is a creative, fast-paced, and exciting space to build a career.
Why Representation in Engineering Matters: The Exactaform Perspective
We manufacture high-performance PCD and carbide cutting tools used by aerospace, automotive, and composite manufacturers around the world. We believe that engineering should be open to everyone. Not all people in our team have come from traditional engineering backgrounds. Some started in logistics, while others were trained on the job. That diversity of experience is something we value as a business. We invest in development, encourage progression and support our team as they build, grow, and shape their careers.
Meet the Women Behind the Machines
Agnieszka Jalowiecka, Quality Inspector
While Aga did not formally study engineering, she has become an expert through hands-on training. Her role requires deep focus and a detailed understanding of tooling, and her ability to set up, assess, and troubleshoot equipment makes her an essential part of our workflow. For Aga, quality inspection is both technical and intuitive. Aga shares that “it’s kind of like being an investigator. Anything could go wrong, so you need to keep your eyes open to every detail.”
Natalia Urbanik, Progress Chaser
Natalia's journey at Exactaform started a few years ago. Over time, she moved into dispatch and then progressed into her current role as Progress Chaser. She monitors the flow of customer orders through production and working with different teams to avoid delays. She comments, "One thing that surprised me when I started (my position as a Progress Chaser) was how much behind-the-scenes coordination is required to keep production flowing efficiently. It's not just about machines and materials it's about teamwork and quick problem solving."
Sophie Price, Senior Production Controller
Sophie plays a central role in keeping Exactaform’s production running smoothly - planning schedules, prioritising jobs, aligning materials and managing deadlines are a part of her daily routine. She oversees the workflow across several departments as she collaborates closely with sales, engineering, and manufacturing to keep everything on track.
- Sophie Price, Senior Production Controller
International Women in Engineering Day: Why It Still Matters
International Women in Engineering Day (IWIED) is a reminder that access to engineering careers should not depend on gender, background, or academic credentials alone. Manufacturing is evolving quickly. Smart automation, sustainable tooling, and digital processes are changing how we work.
The women in our team are part of that change. Businesses have a responsibility to open doors, provide training, and nurture careers because growth happens when skill meets opportunity and when people have the tools they need, progress follows.
Explore Your Future in Engineering
Whether you are just starting out or looking for your next move, a career in engineering can lead you places you never expected. We are building a team that reflects the future of our industry - diverse, capable, and ambitious.
Want to learn more about careers in engineering or how we’re supporting inclusive growth in manufacturing?
Contact us or follow us on LinkedIn.
References
Engineering UK. Spike in women aged 35 to 44 leaving engineering, 2024. Read Report
