Women in Industry: Breaking Barriers and Shaping the Future - Kirsty Davies-Chinnock

In this special bonus episode of Industry 2Day, we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day 2025 with Kirsty Davies-Chinnock — Managing Director of Professional Polish­ing Services, Director at the British Stainless Steel Association, and Founder of Women with Metal & Women in Industry.

Kirsty shares her unique perspective as a leading industry voice and passionate advocate for greater representation of women in manufacturing. From misconceptions and barriers to entry, to evolving skills and the role of technology, we delve into the real stories, progress, and ongoing challenges — and explore what it will take to make manufacturing a more welcoming and rewarding space for everyone.

In this episode, we explore:

Kirsty’s story and route into manufacturing
How are women represented in the sector - is there a bias towards certain roles?
How does the UK compare to other manufacturing nations?
Are women still feeling the pressure to ‘fit in’ with a male-dominated culture?
The impact that advancing technologies are having on the accessibility of manufacturing roles for women
The media portrayal vs. reality - is there a disconnect?
Is there a lack of progression for women in the sector?
The role of apprenticeships in encouraging more women and younger people into the sector
How can SMEs be better supported in engaging with women and young people?
How do we better showcase the fun, creativity and variety in the sector?
Advice for a young woman considering a career in manufacturing
What’s one bold move the industry could take today that would make a meaningful difference?

To find out more about Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, the Women with Metal group and Women in Industry podcast, visit https://kirstydavieschinnock.com/.

To learn more about International Women in Engineering Day and the Women’s Engineering Society, visit https://www.inwed.org.uk/

To learn more about the podcast, visit www.mtcevents.co.uk/industry-2day