Celebrating Women in Engineering!

At Black & White, we are proud to support and champion women in engineering. As an organisation, we are committed to ensuring equal opportunities and fostering an inclusive environment where all talented individuals can thrive and reach their full potential throughout their career journeys.

One of our key initiatives focuses on the career progression of women. We have implemented robust measures to enable and ensure that talented women have equal opportunities to advance to senior management positions. Through mentorship programs, leadership training, and targeted development plans, we empower women to excel and break barriers, contributing their unique perspectives and expertise to our projects.

Here are some insights from Aurore, Sara, and Villy, about what it’s like working at Black & White:

“Black & White has been an outstanding employer in terms of supporting me during all three of my pregnancies – allowing me significantly for more maternity leaves than the statutory provision in Dubai, while enabling a smooth transition returning to work and affording me the on-the-job experiences and responsibility necessary to allow my career to progress. More recently, upon returning to the UK, Black & White was happy to give me the flexibility of working part-time from home, with no impact on my role and responsibilities, allowing me to maintain a good work/life balance.”

Aurore Knight, Principal Mechanical Engineer, Edinburgh

“The culture at Black & White is like nothing I’ve experienced before. I felt fully supported as I went on my maternity leave, and being the first ‘returner’ has been a really positive experience for me. Inclusive and accommodating, the culture enables me to give my best to Black & White and our clients.”

Sara Ingram, Lead Design Manager, London

“Working for the last two years with Black & White, I have been involved in a wide range of projects that have enhanced my ability to consider projects from different points-of-view within the Design team. At Black & White, we embrace the team spirit, and we continuously support each other, which gives us the opportunity for career growth. Black & White’s culture and focus on the importance of diversity and inclusion have supported me to be able to combine motherhood with a very demanding role.”

Villy Maliaka, Associate Director, Dubai

Our commitment does not stop here – we firmly believe in inspiring the next generation of female talents in the engineering industry. At the heart of our commitment to welcoming and empowering women is our Graduate and Internship Programme through which we are thrilled to welcome two talented female graduates to our team, Karen and Michaela. By providing them with a supportive and nurturing environment, we aim to encourage more young women to pursue rewarding careers in engineering, challenging traditional norms and driving innovation.

We recognise the importance of guidance and support, that is why through this programme, we pair aspiring women engineers with experienced professionals who provide invaluable advice and mentorship. This initiative enables our graduate engineers to access valuable insights, enhance their skills, and navigate the complexities of the industry with confidence.

Here’s what Karen and Michaela have to say about their experience at Black & White so far:

“My team respects my perspective regardless of whether it relates to engineering or anything else. Equal opportunities are guaranteed by the company’s choice to base its judgment on qualifications and merit rather than gender.”

Karen Lagyap, Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Manila

“Based on my personal experience and observations in the company, as a woman, I do not see any barrier that stems out from working in a field dominated by men. Projects are assigned based on educational background and work experience, ideas are welcomed, and works are assessed objectively. As a Graduate Engineer, I am encouraged by my colleagues to ask more frequently and not to hesitate in sharing ideas.”

Michaela Agtarap, Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Manila

We live in an undeniably competitive industry, and at Black & White, we value the distinctive and competitive ideas that women can contribute. Supporting women within this dynamic landscape is essential but empowering them is equally vital. This is a fundamental principle that drives our focus to fostering diversity, driving creativity, and achieving greater heights of success. By curating a workplace where women are encouraged to thrive, we can propel the industry forward.

We are proud of the strides we have made, but we know there is still work to be done. We will continue to advocate for gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in the engineering field, working together to create a future where every aspiring or experienced engineer, every seasoned specialist, regardless of gender, can thrive and succeed.

About Black & White

Black & White Engineering is a dynamic and innovative engineering company that specialises in delivering innovative and high-quality MEP design engineering solutions for a wide range of industries. We are known for delivering innovative, effective, and simple sustainable solutions to complex challenges in a fast-paced environment.

Backed with more than 15 years of experience, our growing One Global Team of highly skilled engineers and specialists works collaboratively to meet the diverse needs of our clients.

www.bw-engineering.com