Women in Manufacturing at Adelphi

At Adelphi, we believe in diversity in engineering, especially encouraging more women into manufacturing roles. Here, machinist Sarah Williams shares her story of returning to engineering, leadership, and helping bridge the gender gap in the practical workforce.

Early Beginnings

Sarah’s engineering journey began early. At 15, she joined Crawley College as an apprentice and spent a year at the Industrial Training Centre, where she was one of just three female students in a class of 130. The experience underscored how rare it was to see women in technical training at that time.

After gaining experience at VG Scientific in high-vacuum technologies, she took a break to raise a family. Twelve years later, she returned to industry in repair engineering, then progressed to managerial roles following a merger with Vacgen.

Joining Adelphi & Making an Impact

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on employment, Sarah joined Adelphi. From her very first interview, she found the recruitment process to be fair, open, and free from gender bias.

Sarah has transformed the Machine Shop from an R&D-oriented function into a full-scale production area. Her leadership has driven improvements in efficiency and productivity, helping align operations more closely with customer demand and output expectations.

Overcoming Bias & Fostering Respect

Despite initial concerns about perceptions, Sarah has discovered a culture of mutual respect at Adelphi. She is consulted by colleagues, and there is no sense of a gender hierarchy. This open environment allows for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Towards a More Inclusive Manufacturing Future

Sarah is keenly aware of the need to raise representation in manufacturing. Adelphi is taking active steps to reduce gender imbalance amongst machinists and mechanical fitters. One of her goals is to recruit Adelphi’s first female engineering apprentice, a move that would help bring more women into hands-on technical roles.

Why Women in Manufacturing Matters

• Helps companies like Adelphi tap into a broader talent pool, essential in manufacturing and engineering.
• Promotes diversity and inclusion, which drives innovation and problem solving.
• Inspires the next generation of female engineers and machinists, helping close skills gaps.