New Girlguiding badge gives young people a first step into civil engineering across Buckinghamshire

New Girlguiding badge gives young people a first step into civil engineering across Buckinghamshire

• The new civil engineering badge will be available to Guides and Rangers across Buckinghamshire for free.
• The partnership between Girlguiding Anglia and the Institution of Civil Engineers aims to encourage more girls to consider careers in infrastructure.
• Real-life engineers are available to help units run activities such as bridge building and water challenges.

Girlguiding Anglia has joined a partnership with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) aimed at inspiring young women and girls to explore the world of infrastructure and a career as a civil engineer.

Guides and Rangers who complete at least two of the activities in the civil engineering challenge will earn the new badge.

The activities bring civil engineering to life - from chocolate bar bridge‑building and constructing a tower on jelly to learn about ground conditions, to responding to a simulated emergency by creating water systems and shelters for vulnerable communities.

Girlguiding leaders can run the activities themselves, but the programme also aims to connect local units with practising civil engineers who serve as trained ICE volunteers and support STEM outreach (science, technology, engineering and maths).

Katherine Etheridge, ICE South East England regional director, said: “Civil engineering shapes the places we live, work and travel through, and the partnership with Girlguiding is giving girls a real taste of what working in civil engineering could look like.

We’ve seen how much they enjoy getting hands‑on and trying out ideas for themselves, and it’s clear the experience is opening their eyes to new possibilities. Leaders tell us the activities are going really well, and many girls come away feeling more confident about what they can do.

Bringing the badge to the Buckinghamshire region means even more young people can explore a field they might not have considered before.

It’s exciting to think some of them could go on to help design and build the infrastructure their communities rely on in the near future”.

The Buckinghamshire adoption of the new badge follows a successful pilot in the other parts of the UK which has resulted in 15,000 badges being awarded nationwide.

Girlguiding leaders, Guides and Rangers also praised the badge activities, rating them 4.5 out of five stars.

Feedback surveys from participants show a significant increase in their interest in civil engineering careers, rising from 17% before the activities to 83% after completion.

Guides described the challenge as fun, inspiring and eye‑opening, saying it changed their preconceptions of civil engineering and showed there is something for everyone.

They particularly enjoyed the hands‑on, interactive activities and strong focus on teamwork, and said they were inspired by seeing women empowered in civil engineering roles - with some now considering a future career in the profession.

Karen Johnson, Chief Commissioner for Girlguiding Anglia, said: “Following our strategy workshops and members' survey, we know how important STEM is to our members so we are really excited to be able to work alongside ICE to provide this wonderful opportunity.

“We want to empower and inspire our members to lead the way and prove that girls really can do anything”.

Girlguiding units who wish to take part in the civil engineering challenge for Guides and Rangers should visit www.girlguiding-anglia.org.uk/about-us/corporate-partners for more information.