Steph McGovern Launches Teesside University Scholarship to Empower Women in Engineering
In a significant move to address gender disparities in the engineering sector, broadcaster and journalist Steph McGovern has officially launched a new scholarship programme at Teesside University. The initiative, titled the Steph McGovern Women in Engineering Scholarship powered by Enginuity, is designed to support female students pursuing engineering degrees, with a focus on increasing female representation in this critical field.
A Personal Commitment to Engineering Diversity
Steph McGovern, who hails from Middlesbrough and began her career as an engineer at Black & Decker, where she won the Young Engineer for Britain award at age 19, has long been an advocate for widening access to engineering careers. Her personal journey and professional achievements, including an Honorary Doctorate in Professional Achievement from Teesside University in 2013, underscore her dedication to this cause. At a special event held in the University's Digital Life Building, McGovern met the first cohort of seven female students who will benefit from the scholarship, marking the start of a programme that offers financial assistance, mentoring, and ongoing professional support.
Partnership and Funding Details
The scholarship is made possible through a £44,000 funding commitment from Enginuity, an engineering skills charity. This partnership between Teesside University, Enginuity, and Steph McGovern aims to tackle the under-representation of women in engineering. Nationally, as of 2025, women account for only 16.9% of the engineering workforce, compared to 56% in other occupations, highlighting the urgent need for initiatives like this one. The scholarship will provide support for every first-year, full-time female engineering student at Teesside University, helping to remove barriers such as financial constraints, prejudice, and peer pressure that often deter women from entering the field.
Voices from the Initiative
Steph McGovern expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, "I can't tell you how delighted I am to help make this happen. If we want to make the world a better place for everyone, we need more women involved in the designing, making and running of it, and to me that means more female engineers." She emphasised the importance of tearing down barriers to create rewarding career paths for women.
Professor Mark Simpson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor designate at Teesside University, added, "Empowering students to thrive and embracing diversity are at the heart of Teesside University's mission and values. We are delighted to partner with Steph and Enginuity to deliver this fantastic scholarship, which will support greater diversity in engineering and ensure that more female students have the opportunities, encouragement, and resources to succeed."
Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, who also grew up in Teesside, highlighted the broader impact of the scholarship. She noted, "Steph is a terrific role model and so tuned in to the barriers that women face entering our crucial sector. There is massive investment in place for the region to support advanced manufacturing, bio-tech, and carbon capture – we need to help regenerate this industrial heartland by giving these projects the oxygen that skills provide." Watson stressed that encouraging more women into engineering is not only the right thing to do but a necessity for meeting industry demands.
Programme Structure and Future Impact
The scholarship programme will run throughout the academic year, offering a comprehensive support system that includes:
- Financial assistance to alleviate economic burdens for students.
- Mentoring opportunities to guide scholars through their studies.
- Direct connection to Steph McGovern's professional network and insights.
To celebrate the launch, McGovern recorded an episode of her podcast, Steph on Skills – powered by Enginuity, further promoting the initiative. This scholarship is seen as a powerful step towards fostering a more inclusive engineering workforce in the Tees Valley and beyond, aligning with regional efforts to boost skills in sectors like advanced manufacturing and green technology.
