Presenter Steph McGovern backs engineering scholarship for young women

With less than 20% of engineering recruits presently consisting of women employees, broadcaster Steph McGovern returned to her North Eastern roots to launch a scholarship scheme promoting more female engagement in the sector, writes Neill Barston.

The Channel 4 presenter, and former BBC Breakfast star, returned to Teeside to lend her backing to the venture, which comes amid a wider shortfall within the industry, with the food and drink market as a whole, finding an increasing lack of skilled labour. 

Indeed, for the confectionery sector, while companies have often engaged with their own internal training programme, recruitment has proved challenging, especially given the present lack of a dedicated national trade group for the industry, which other countries, such as Germany’s BDSI confectionery body have provided core support towards.

As far as the UK is concerned, in response, the Steph McGovern Women has moved to play her part with the Engineering Scholarship powered by Enginuity, providing support for every first‑year, full‑time female Engineering student at Teesside University, thanks to £44,000 of funding from Enginuity, the engineering skills charity.

At a special event held in the University’s Digital Life Building, the inaugural scholars learned for the first time that they would receive support from Steph herself throughout their studies.

Before starting her career as a broadcaster, the Middlesbrough‑born presenter worked an engineer at Black & Decker where she won the Young Engineer for Britain award at the age of 19. She remains a committed advocate for widening access to engineering careers.

In 2013, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Professional Achievement by Teesside University.

Steph McGovern said: “I can’t tell you how delighted I am to help make this happen,” said Steph, “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 and to me that means more female engineers”

“There are so many unnecessary barriers women have to overcome to get on the right path to a rewarding career, whether financial, prejudicial, ignorance or pure peer pressure – so anything that I can do to tear one or two of them down – brings me untold joy.”

The scholarship forms a key partnership between Teesside University, Enginuity, and Steph to help address the under‑representation of women in engineering.

As the scheme noted, nationally, in 2025, women accounted for only 16.9% of the engineering workforce, compared with 56% across other occupations.

Professor Mark Simpson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor designate at Teesside University, said: “Empowering students to thrive and embracing diversity are at the heart of Teesside University’s mission and values.

“We are delighted to partner with Steph and Enginuity to deliver this fantastic scholarship which will support greater diversity in engineering and ensure that more female students have the opportunities, encouragement and resources to succeed.”