Earlier this summer, WOMEN’STEC hosted its annual Breakfast of Champions — a flagship event that brings together employers, partners, and supporters from across the industry who are committed to championing women and girls in skilled careers.

The morning gathered a fantastic mix of our #NotJustForBoysChampions and other key stakeholders for an inspiring session filled with networking, shared learning, and a collective focus on how we can continue breaking down barriers in sectors like construction, engineering, IT, and more.

This year’s event featured powerful guest contributions from Barry Neilson OBE (CITB NI) and Nuala Griffiths (Heron Bros), who shared thoughtful insights on the critical role of partnership, visible representation, and sustained investment in creating more inclusive industries.

Generously sponsored by CITB Northern Ireland, the event provided a vibrant, welcoming space for attendees to celebrate progress made so far and exchange ideas on what’s next. From discussing the impact of early engagement with young people, to exploring how workplaces can better support gender diversity, the energy in the room was brilliant.

The Breakfast of Champions continues to be a key date in our calendar — not just to highlight the work being done across the WOMEN’STEC community, but to spark new collaborations and energise the collective mission to challenge stereotypes and grow opportunities for women in every space.

We’re already looking forward to next year’s event!

Organisations interested in learning about the #NotJustForBoysChampion initiative can read more here: https://www.womenstec.org/champions-about