Broadcaster and journalist Steph McGovern has returned to her Teesside roots to launch a significant new scholarship programme designed to boost the number of women entering the engineering profession. The initiative, officially titled the Steph McGovern Women in Engineering Scholarship powered by Enginuity, represents a collaborative effort between the TV presenter, Teesside University, and the engineering skills charity Enginuity.
Financial Support and Mentoring for Female Students
Thanks to a generous £44,000 funding commitment from Enginuity, the scholarship will provide comprehensive support for every first-year, full-time female engineering student enrolled at Teesside University. The programme extends beyond mere financial assistance, offering recipients valuable mentoring opportunities and ongoing professional guidance directly from Steph McGovern herself.
At a special launch event held within the University's Digital Life Building, the inaugural cohort of seven female scholars discovered they would benefit from this personalised support throughout their academic journey. The scholarship forms a crucial partnership aimed directly at addressing the persistent under-representation of women within the engineering sector.
Addressing a National Skills Gap
Recent national statistics highlight the pressing need for such initiatives. In 2025, women accounted for just 16.9% of the engineering workforce across the United Kingdom, a stark contrast to the 56% female representation seen in other occupational fields. This scholarship seeks to challenge that disparity head-on by removing barriers and creating clearer pathways into the profession.
Steph McGovern, who began her own career as an engineer at Black & Decker after winning the Young Engineer for Britain award at age 19, spoke passionately about the programme's objectives. "I can't tell you how delighted I am to help make this happen," she stated. "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."
She further emphasised the unnecessary obstacles many women face, citing "financial, prejudicial, ignorance or pure peer pressure" as significant hurdles. "Anything that I can do to tear one or two of them down brings me untold joy," McGovern added.
University and Industry Leaders Voice Support
Professor Mark Simpson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor designate at Teesside University, welcomed the partnership. "Empowering students to thrive and embracing diversity are at the heart of Teesside University's mission and values," he said. "We are delighted to partner with Steph and Enginuity to deliver this fantastic scholarship which will support greater diversity in engineering."
Professor Simpson noted the programme would ensure more female students have "the opportunities, encouragement and resources to succeed," sending a powerful message about the talent within the Tees Valley and the importance of widening participation in STEM subjects.
Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, who also hails from Teesside, described Steph McGovern as a "terrific role model" uniquely attuned to the barriers women encounter. "Who better to be the face and voice of this initiative!" Watson remarked.
She connected the scholarship to broader regional regeneration, pointing to massive investment in advanced manufacturing, bio-tech, and carbon capture projects. "We need to help regenerate this industrial heartland by giving these projects the oxygen that skills provide," Watson explained. "Industry is in desperate need of a flowing pipeline of skilled people, and encouraging more women into the system is not just the right thing to do – but an absolute necessity."
A Personal Commitment to Change
For Steph McGovern, the launch marks a continuation of her longstanding advocacy for engineering careers. The Middlesbrough-born presenter was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Professional Achievement by Teesside University back in 2013, recognising her commitment to the field.
The scholarship programme will run throughout the academic year, with McGovern marking its commencement by meeting the first cohort of students and recording an episode of her popular podcast, 'Steph on Skills – powered by Enginuity'. This initiative stands as a tangible step towards creating a more inclusive and diverse future for the UK's engineering industry.
