This Saturday women all across the UK will be celebrating International Women in Engineering Day.

First launched in 2014 by the Women’s Engineering Society to celebrate its 95th anniversary, the event is now held annually on June 23.

This year’s theme is Raising The Bar and the aim is to raise the profile of women in engineering by focusing attention on the wide range of career opportunities available to female engineers.

It also celebrates the achievements of women in engineering throughout the world, encouraging individuals, community groups and companies to hold events then link them for maximum effect.

Universities such as Sheffield and University College London are hosting open days, while major organisations such as Network Rail and BP are planning events, discussions and conferences that are also open to the public.

This day of celebration comes not long after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle helped mark International Women’s Day in advance of their wedding by visiting a project aimed at inspiring girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

They met female secondary school students in Birmingham taking part in a range of activities from speed networking opportunities with businesses to panel discussions.

Women’s participation in STEM is estimated to be worth millions to the UK economy.

This is because, when it comes to the development of new products and services, teams with a more diverse range of gender, backgrounds and life experiences are crucial to creating fresh ideas.

The job market in this traditionally male sector has rocketed in recent years and the demand keeps growing.

Estimates suggest by 2022 there will be 1.8 million new jobs in engineering, science and technology across the UK. This means the need for more female engineers has never been greater.

It’s a perfect time to break down the barriers engineering stereotypes have put up and involve young women in the discussion about the UK’s engineering future.

So let’s take a look at some of the top jobs.

Petroleum Engineers

Engineers are needed to optimise the drilling of the UK’s oil and natural gas reserves. This sector is massive and hugely lucrative – not surprisingly, therefore, so is the demand for top-notch engineers. Join this team and you’ll play one of the biggest roles in fuelling the world’s factories, offices, homes and vehicles.

Software Engineers

IT has been part of engineering for years but cloud-based communication systems are becoming crucial in keeping everyone working together with common goals. Software engineers build and develop the invisible forces that help advance our home lives, medicine, science and industry. They offer the tools that make life go smoothly for everyone else.

Environmental Engineers

UK companies are constantly seeking environmental engineers to improve and maximise performance. Massive projects that utilise natural powers, such as wind farms, also need environmental engineering skills to combine effectively with those in the civil, mechanical and software sectors.

Aerospace Engineers

This high-flying sector incorporates many different aspects of professional engineering and boasts one of the most versatile skill sets in the engineering sector. The UK excels in this area and female applicants are always welcomed.

Mechanical Engineers

Mechanical engineers develop products used across a host of industries, from construction to IT. Skills gained in this field can be transferred to many different industries, making it a highly sought after position.

Add your own input to International Women in Engineering Day by taking a closer look at Engineering and IT roles available.