How is Alpine supporting inclusion and diversity with female engineers?

Having launched a special outreach programme three years ago, Formula One's Enstone-based outfit Alpine is playing a significant role in promoting greater diversity within the wider motorsport and engineering communities.

Now in its 12th year, International Women in Engineering Day took place on June 23 and in 2025 is championing the principle ‘Together We Engineer’. The event shone a spotlight on female talent across the industry and plays an important role in encouraging more young women and girls to pursue careers in engineering.

As part of INWED 2025, Alpine has once again run a community outreach programme for the third year running. The Enstone-based squad welcomed 7 students from a local school to take part in a wide range of hands-on activities and hear from female role models across the team.

Organised in part by Alpine’s Women in Motorsport group, the event is designed to inspire young girls to consider STEM subjects and careers in engineering.

Working as Lead Aerodynamicist, Kate Goldup commented: “I feel really lucky to work alongside so many amazing female colleagues. By celebrating them and raising awareness, we’re creating role models for the next generation. There’s a phrase I often come back to: you can't be what you can't see. If girls don’t know a career in engineering is even a possibility, how can they take the steps to pursue it?

“For me, that’s what INWED is all about - raising the profile and tackling underrepresentation. When we give time and space to initiatives like this, it shows that Alpine acknowledges how Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) has a direct impact on car performance. More diverse teams simply perform better.

“I’m part of our internal DEI group, where we’re having open conversations and taking proactive steps to raise awareness and ensure underrepresented groups see engineering as a real, attainable path. There have been countless studies showing that when people feel included and can be themselves at work, they perform better - and that ultimately benefits car performance too.”

Working as Validation Testing Manager, Lucy Brown has revealed that she found it difficult to find a job in motorsport back in 1999 when diversity was an off-topic.

“When I was 16, it was hard to get across in a CV that engineering was truly my passion. A lot of companies didn’t want to interview me. Years later, I’ve had feedback from people involved in those decisions - some said they didn’t want to hire a woman because of the upheaval it might cause on the shop floor. It was 1998 or 1999 - and they just weren’t ready for it.

“But once I got my foot in the door, I never doubted my ability. I’ve always believed I could do the role - that there’s no reason I shouldn’t be doing it. People sometimes make you question whether this is the right path or suggest there are easier options, but I’ve always been resilient.

“I’ve worked with brilliant people who’ve never made it harder for me or treated me differently. The mentors who trained me when I was 16, even though I’d never picked up a welding torch before, treated me just like everyone else. That meant a lot.

“So the changes I’ve seen have been extraordinary. I went from being the only woman in companies I worked for and now we have over 100 women working at Enstone today. That’s a massive change in eight years.”

Alex Hallam who acts as Deputy Cell Lead - Day Shift commented: “I think International Women in Engineering Day is so important for showing what’s possible. When I first did work experience here in the composites department, I was the only woman and that was quite an eye-opener.

“Now, with a global platform, Alpine helps make engineering visible to everyone. If I’d seen someone like me in this role, it would have been a huge inspiration. And the same goes for girls in countries or cultures where those rights or opportunities aren’t as accessible - they can see that things are changing elsewhere.

“I remember touring my motorsport college, and someone mentioned that a girl had graduated and joined Enstone. That stuck with me - and by the time I started here, I met her. She’s now one of my closest friends.”

Commenting on the INWED, Race Support Engineer Annalisa Aicardi reckoned: “International Women in Engineering Day is very important to me. Even though I’ve only been in the industry for a few years, I’ve already seen a big change. The number of women working in engineering at Alpine has increased a lot since I started and it’s really encouraging to see.

“Events like INWED matter because they help showcase different paths and possibilities. Not everyone comes from the same background or has the same opportunities - so it’s vital that we inspire the next generation and show them that there is a place for them in this industry if they’re passionate about it.

“For young women, my advice is simple - follow your dreams. Choose the university or course that suits your interests, get involved in hands-on projects related to the field, and don’t be afraid to go after what you want - even if you don’t always feel fully supported.”