As International Women in Engineering Day celebrates trailblazing women in industry, entrepreneur Gina Goulding is proving that manufacturing’s future is female – and digital.

After beginning her career through a civil engineering degree apprenticeship which included working on major nuclear projects at Sellafield, in 2021 Gina turned a baking side-hustle into a fast-growing enterprise.

Today, the 27-year-old leads Bakes by Gina, an 8-strong team that produces thousands of cakes each month for retail and wholesale from a factory in Whitehaven. She also operates Beach Road Bakehouse in St Bees, which has a further 14 staff, and juggles a role as a planning engineer.

Gina’s success has been powered by digital innovation and bold leadership, supported by Made Smarter, the government-backed programme helping SMEs adopt digital technology and skills.

“Made Smarter didn’t just help with creating a digital strategy and highlighting the opportunity of digital technologies – it helped me believe in my own leadership potential,” Gina said. “It helped me see myself not just as a baker or engineer, but as a manufacturer and business owner.”

Gina is a graduate of Made Smarter’s Leading Digital Transformation (LDT) programme, a course designed to help SME leaders develop the confidence and capability to lead digital change. Two of her team members have also completed Made Smarter’s Leading Digital Champions (LDC) programme, further embedding a culture of innovation.

Gina’s blend of creativity and technical expertise is a good example of the hybrid skills now driving manufacturing forward. Her engineering background laid the foundation for problem-solving and process thinking, while her creative instincts bring flair to everything from workspace design to cake decoration.

“Creativity and engineering go hand in hand,” she said. “An engineering mindset helps you be resourceful and resilient – exactly what you need when you’re growing a business.”

She is also a proud role model for women entering historically male-dominated fields.

“When I started my engineering apprenticeship, I was the only woman,” she explained. “A few years later, I was working alongside two other female engineers. Things are changing, and it’s great to see.”

Gina’s story is part of a wider shift. Over the last six years, Made Smarter has helped dozens of women across the North West develop leadership skills through training, mentoring and internships.

Claire Scott, Technology Adoption Specialist for Made Smarter, says Gina embodies the inclusive future of manufacturing: “Women like Gina are changing perceptions of what engineering and manufacturing looks like,” she said. “And they’re not just part of the change –they’re leading it. More stories like Gina’s change the narrative.”

The rise of automation, AI, and data analytics is redefining roles and removing barriers that once excluded women from certain jobs. Packing lines and manual processes are being replaced by smart systems, creating space for higher-value, more flexible jobs, and allowing women to lead from the shop floor to the boardroom.

Sarah Woodhams built a successful career in IT and manufacturing. Today, as Technology Adoption Specialist for Made Smarter, she supports SMEs to embrace digital technology.

She said: “Digital transformation is levelling the playing field. It’s not about who can lift more –it’s about who can lead smarter.

“Antiquated attitudes to the role of women in engineering still exist, but they are rare. We’re no longer the only women in the room. Women are leading change in manufacturing, and digital is opening the door.”

Made Smarter’s interventions, such as the LDT and Digital Champions programmes, are equipping women on the shop floor and in middle management with the confidence, leadership tools, and technical skills to lead change projects.

Meanwhile, the Digital Technology Internship programme, which connects digitally savvy students with SMEs looking to implement new technology, is helping young women gain exposure to a potential career in engineering.

Donna Edwards began her own career on the factory floor and now leads the Made Smarter North West programme. She believes that change starts with early exposure and education.

“We need to start early and show girls that engineering and manufacturing is modern, high-tech and full of opportunity,” she said. “Gina’s journey shows that the message is getting through.”

Made Smarter North West supports manufacturing SMEs with expert advice, skills and leadership training, technology adoption and digital internships.

Source: Made Smarter