From Curiosity to Career: Ayris's Journey in Engineering

To help raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in construction, we caught up with Ayris Saner, one of our talented Mechanical Design Engineers, to discuss her career journey so far, inspirations, and advice for the next generation of women in STEM.

How long have you been at CPW?

It’s been a year and a half since joining the company, and time has really flown! But at the same time, it feels like I’ve been here much longer, everyone’s just so friendly. We’re a close-knit team here at the Leeds office; it honestly feels like family, but I still find myself thinking, 'Oh my god, I’m learning so much!' I suppose that never really stops.

Did you always want a career within the Built Environment?

Initially, I wanted to go into graphic design. I’ve always been naturally creative and love a challenging design process, but I realised it wasn’t quite the right field for me. At the same time, I’d always been really interested in sustainability, which is what drew me towards my degree choice. I wanted to build a broad skill set at university to open up different career options and combine all of my interests.

I studied Architecture and Environmental Design on a master’s-inclusive course, which gave me an introduction to the world of architecture and the built environment. I gained exposure to a range of disciplines, from architecture through to both electrical and mechanical engineering, which was a great experience.

“Studying architecture allowed me to explore my creative side, whether through rendering or creating presentations within InDesign and Photoshop. Engineering, while still creative in many ways, gave me the chance to learn more about sustainable development through dynamic modelling - and I loved every part of it.”

One of the first companies I worked for specialised in heat network metering. That’s when I learned about district and communal heating systems. I thought it was a genius concept! I’d never come across it before, because at university we were mainly taught about sizing of services, but not the energy source and the wider infrastructure that makes buildings more connected.

If you change just one central energy source to a sustainable one, you can transform everything. That idea really stuck with me. Working there sparked something, I realised I had the knowledge to explore the infrastructure side, to help design systems that could make a real impact.

When it comes to buildings, most people focus on the external aesthetics and how a building appears from the outside. But the MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) side is so crucial, even though it’s often hidden. My interest shifted from the visual side of things, to being more about functionality.

As someone with an architectural background, how do you view the relationship between architecture and engineering?

It’s interesting – I still enjoy the architectural side, as it’s what I studied – but there’s always a natural contrast of perspectives between architects and engineers. As engineers, we’re often asking, “Can we have more space?” because architects are rightly focused on maximising usable floor area for end-users.

For me, it’s about finding the right balance together. Architects bring light, flow, and user experience to their designs, while we ensure comfort through heating, lighting, ventilation, and energy-efficient systems. Working collaboratively means we can optimise space and deliver buildings that are both inspiring to look at and efficient to run, with a lower carbon cost.

What drew you to MEP design?

As much as I loved the visual side, I came to realise that functionality, making people feel comfortable and supported in a space, is what I’m really passionate about.

Buildings are designed for people to live and work in, we use them every single day. Not everyone drives a car, but everyone enters a building. Yet we rarely think about what makes that building comfortable as soon as you enter, or the systems in place to make it function that are hidden away.

One of the things that drives me is wanting to make those systems more accessible. Take heating, for example a lot of people can’t afford it, and that’s something I really want to help improve. Mechanical engineering isn’t just about numbers and calculations, it’s about wellbeing too. We’re here to create spaces that care for people.

What role does sustainability play in your approach to building services, and how do you see it evolving within the industry?

Services need to adapt as a building’s use changes. It might start out as an office and later become a school or a lab, and each of those functions require different things. Systems need to be flexible, energy-efficient, and future-proof.

I’m fully on board with sustainability, and I think the industry is heading in the right direction. There’s still a long way to go, but we’ve already made huge strides. That was another aspect that drew me to this career path – I want to be part of shaping the future, and sustainable engineering is the way forward.

That said, I’m aware that sustainability often comes with financial barriers. That’s another challenge we need to tackle: how can we make these solutions affordable and scalable? It’s often a balancing act between sustainability and affordability, but it’s so important.

After university, what was your first role?

My first job was in graphic design, but after realising it wasn’t quite right, I joined a small architectural company that had everything in-house, sustainability, mechanical and electrical engineering. All the engineers were building services engineers, doing a bit of everything, which gave me great insight.

I knew I wanted to stay within the built environment, but I wasn’t sure which direction to take. That initial role opened my eyes quite a lot, it helped me understand what sustainability engineers do, what M&E involves, and how it all fits together.

It also showed me that engineering is what really drives sustainability. Building systems have a massive impact on energy efficiency, and through engineering, I feel like I can be at the forefront of that change. That’s what makes it so fulfilling for me.

It’s so important to explore your interests and options. I always found the sustainability side of things fascinating, especially looking at things like Passive House design, or Part L assessments for residential buildings. It taught me a lot about regulations and the level of detail that goes into making buildings more sustainable.

MEP careers are still often seen as male-dominated and not a path many women traditionally pursue. How did you find your way into mechanical engineering?

It’s true, MEP careers have traditionally had more men than women, but the landscape is definitely changing. We’re seeing more young women joining the industry, and many returning after maternity leave too – which is really encouraging to see.

For me, my passion for sustainability and the built environment made mechanical engineering feel like the natural choice. Initially, when I was interviewed at CPW, I was leaning towards building physics or a sustainability consultant role. But they actually suggested mechanical might be a better fit, and I’m so glad I followed that recommendation. It’s given me the chance to make a real impact, and I honestly love every second of it.

I do think the lines between sustainability and engineering are starting to blur (in a good way). I see hybrid roles emerging, and I’m working on developing those skills so I can step into that space. The industry’s evolving, and there are more and more opportunities for women now.

How do you see the construction industry evolving, and what does that mean for engineers today?

The construction industry really does move quickly, it’s always evolving, and with that evolution comes a real need for collaboration, especially across generations.

A lot of younger engineers are being trained on the latest systems, like heat pumps, but they don’t always get exposure to older technologies, like steam or gas. I’m actually working on a project involving steam right now, and it’s completely new to me. That’s where experienced engineers come in, who have been in the industry for 10-20 years, we need to learn from them to fully understand how everything fits together. Collaboration is key, and mentoring is something CPW takes pride in.

What do you think women bring to engineering and the industry at large?

That’s a big question, and an important one! I think women bring a different energy and a fresh perspective. We have different strengths, and that diversity of thought is so valuable. I’ve felt really welcomed within the industry, and more women are taking these roles – people appreciate the balance a gender-diverse team can bring.

There’s still more work to be done, but things have changed massively in recent decades. I think for a lot of women, it’s just about awareness – knowing that these roles exist and that they’re for us too. And while stepping into an industry that has historically had more men can sometimes feel intimidating, it’s becoming increasingly common to see women thriving here, which is really inspiring.

Another point I want to add, which isn’t gender-specific, is that people often don’t realise that MEP engineering is just as creative and rewarding as other disciplines within the industry. It’s not all hard hats and hi-vis! There’s a misconception that we’re always on site, but actually, there’s a lot of design work involved: reading blueprints, creating Revit models, collaborating with other disciplines.

Engineering solutions aren’t one-size-fits-all, they demand creativity and collaboration.

At CPW, I work alongside architects and other teams across different sectors, and that pushes me to think creatively every day. I think many people, simply don’t realise how much creative energy the role involves.

Thinking about a future in building services engineering? Find out more about our graduate schemes and apprenticeships here.