Case studies
01 Oct 2024
by Helen Close
A black and white image of three women dressed in 1930's coats with fur trim and deep hats, examining dials in a factory.
The Women's Engineering Society visit a factory. (Image courtesy of IET Archives)

Why we take part

The Women’s Engineering Society (WES) has been involved in Heritage Open Days since 2019, when we were doing our Centenary Trail Project. It’s good fun and gets the stories of past women in engineering out into the public sphere, hopefully also helping alter the perception that girls and women can be engineers, which is so needed.

What we do for HODs

As we don’t actually have a heritage site ourselves we liaise with other Heritage Open Days (HODs) providers and our members to deliver talks and events. I first draw on the festival theme and look for relevant stories that we can tell about women engineers. Then I look for a local link and reach out to HODs organisers in those areas to host the events for us. Alongside this we also set up and deliver online talks. This year we also took inspiration from the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Electrical Association for Women, by some of WES’s early members, which helped to promote the advent of domestic electricity.

Event directory description 2024:

Electrical Networks Then and Now - talk by Fiona Gleed.

As the scientific world looks at different ways to provide energy and head toward Net Zero, join WES and Open University lecturer, Fiona Gleed, as they celebrate 100 years of the Electrical Association for Women and reveal the history behind the advent of domestic electricity and role the women played - then and now - in powering the country!

 

Woman in purple 'engineering is awesome' t-shirt presenting to a large group of seated people in a marble arched room.
Fiona Gleed from the Open University sharing how 'engineering is awesome' in her talk at Bristol's Central Library. (Image courtesy of WES)

The difference it makes

Every year I look forward to making new connections through the festival network, with different organisations. This year we have worked with the Pontefract Civic Society, Swindon Archives, the Whipple Museum, Bristol Library Service and have engaged with some new guest speakers. 

Thanks to the HODs team, we were put in touch with the Women's Engineering Society (WES). They were able to join our event, sparking interest and discussions regarding the women in our history.

Partner

2019 - Lloyd's Register Foundation, Heritage & Education Centre

A collection of 5 small dolls - Lottie Dolls - who are dressed representing different careers a women could have - wearing planet dungarees, hard hats
Partnership working - the Lottie dolls from WES on tour for their event at Lloyds Register Foundation & Heritage Centre in 2019. (Image courtesy of C. Ward)
I really enjoyed the talk finding out about women and electrics. Very well presented and I learnt about histories I haven't heard of before.

Visitor

2024 - Electric Wonderland talk at Swindon Library

Helen's top tips!

  1. Think outside the box.
  2. Look for working with others and new avenues to pursue.

 

Map of the UK covered in purple pins.
Where our connection began - the WES centenary trail map.

Inspired?! Find out more

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