Being a Polish Female Engineer in London: A Q&A with Kamila Wiatr
Diversity is essential to a thriving workplace. A blend of differing cultures, perspectives, and interests will inevitably lead to a more innovative and dynamic way of working. However, women are underrepresented in the engineering industry, accounting for less than 15% of engineers in the UK, the lowest percentage in Europe.
We’ve sat down with Kamila Wiatr, an electrical design engineer in our London team, to discuss her experience as a female engineer from Poland living and engineering in the UK. Kamila joined CPW in 2017 as a graduate engineer as part of our team in Poland. After a year working from the Polish office, Kamila made the move to our London office which, in addition to broadening her understanding of the industry in the UK, has helped in developing her electrical design and project management skills. Harbouring a strong desire to increase the numbers of women in engineering, Kamila runs an Instagram account documenting her life as a female engineer, which has garnered a significant following in recent months.
Kamila Wiatr
Why did you decide to become an electrical engineer?
I think I’ve always known that I wanted to become an engineer. I have strong mathematical skills, so engineering seemed to be a natural fit for my skillset. I made the decision to go into the electrical department of the Wroclaw University of Technology and begin my journey to becoming a qualified electrical engineer.
Did the disparity in numbers of male and female engineers discourage you from the industry?
On the contrary, it made me feel more strongly that this was the career for me. I knew that I would be a rarity in the industry, and I could use that to encourage others like me to take the plunge and start a career in the field.
Why did you decide to emigrate to the UK to work in the industry?
I knew from the outset that there would be a wealth of opportunity in the UK that wasn’t available in my home country, Poland. The construction industry in the UK has so much more going on, and I thrive in the bustling city atmosphere of cities like London. There are endless job prospects, thousands of dynamic and unique projects to work on, and a diverse blend of cultures! I’ve met people from all over Europe and beyond in London who have moved here for the same reason as I have. So, I decided during my training in London that I wanted to stay in the UK! And I’ve not looked back since.
Kamila at the Association of Polish Engineers in Great Britain
What was your experience as a female engineer when you first moved to the UK?
It was quite daunting at first! In comparison to Poland, where nearly half of building services engineers are female, I found I was one of few females in the industry. I spent the first few months nervous at the thought of even speaking in meetings, but this all changed as I began to get more accustomed to my team and the nature of the clients and design teams I was working with.
Have you ever faced discrimination due to your gender?
As a minority in any industry or walk of life, feeling the need to do more to prove my ability and gain respect is not an uncommon occurrence. I am lucky in the fact that I have a company that supports me in every aspect, and this has been key to tackling the bias I sometimes face in the industry. I have a fantastic team that have never failed to treat me equally, not only as a woman, but also as an engineer from outside of the UK. In fact, my team in London have engineers from all over the world, namely the UK, Poland, Hungary, Cyprus, Nepal, and Jamaica – knowing that my colleagues can relate to my experience in some form has allowed me to bond really closely with them all. Women provide a fantastic additional dynamic and an alternative perspective to the electrical engineering and construction world that is a massive positive and adds significant value in what can be seen as an ‘old-fashioned’ industry.
What advice do you have for women wanting to work in electrical engineering?
Remember that we live in the world where we can do anything. We have rights. We can work. We can be engineers. Most of our female ancestors did not have these opportunities, so let's not waste it!
Kamila runs an Instagram account documenting her experience emigrating to London as a female engineer, follow her here: @projektantka.elektryki