International Women in Engineering Day: Eloise Nickerson on energy and the future of FM

International Women in Engineering Day celebrates the people helping shape the future of engineering through expertise, curiosity and practical problem-solving. This year’s theme, #EngineeringIntelligence, reflects the growing role of data, technology and insight in creating safer, more efficient and more sustainable environments.

Across OCS, engineering intelligence is already part of how colleagues support customers every day. From improving building performance to reducing energy consumption and helping organisations meet ambitious carbon targets, engineering teams are combining technical knowledge with human understanding to deliver the best outcomes for people and places.

For Eloise Nickerson, Energy Manager supporting a public service media contract, that balance between technology and people is central to her role.

Solving the Puzzle Behind Building Performance

Eloise joined the business nearly three years ago, having previously worked in a central energy management role across multiple contracts on the South Coast.

Her career path has always been rooted in engineering. After studying science and maths at sixth form, she completed a degree in Renewable Energy Engineering before moving into the sector professionally.

During her time at university, she was inspired by lecturers and researchers who shared real-world industry experiences and helped demonstrate the wider impact engineering could have on people, buildings, and sustainability. Those early mentors helped shape her interest in energy management and reinforced the value of curiosity, technical reasoning and problem-solving.

Understanding How Buildings Perform

What continues to motivate her is the challenge of understanding why buildings are not performing as efficiently as they could. Much of her role involves analysing building data, understanding operational processes and working closely with colleagues on site to identify practical improvements.

She describes energy management as a constant problem-solving exercise, where the aim is not only to reduce waste but also to create environments that work better for the people who use them.

Eloise supports close to 100 sites across the UK, from Shetland to Jersey, including critical broadcasting environments and local radio centres.

Part of her role involves travelling to sites to carry out energy audits, helping establish performance baselines and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, resilience and sustainability throughout time.

As the contract moves into its second year, the focus is increasingly on optimisation, refining how buildings operate and identifying long-term improvements that support both operational performance and user experience.

Balancing Technology, Comfort and Sustainability

For Eloise, the future of engineering within facilities management is closely linked to the smarter use of data and technology.

She sees AI analytics, building sensors plus real-time monitoring as valuable tools that help teams make better operational decisions while maintaining comfortable environments for building users.

That balance is important. Energy reduction targets, carbon ambitions and operational demands continue to evolve across every sector, and engineering teams are often required to adapt quickly to changing customer priorities.

Eloise explains that the challenge is rarely straightforward. Buildings have different operational requirements, budgets shift, and customer priorities can move between energy costs, carbon reduction and long-term sustainability goals.

Technology helps teams respond more proactively. Real-time data and analytics provide greater visibility into how buildings perform, helping engineering teams improve efficiency while maintaining the comfort and wellbeing of the people using those spaces every day.

That approach reflects how OCS combines people, technology and operational expertise to support customers and improve building performance across complex environments.

Encouraging More Women Into Engineering

While progress has been made across engineering and FM, Eloise believes representation remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges.

During her time at university, she also supported programmes that encouraged girls to pursue STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through school outreach and hands-on activities led by female engineers and scientists.

The aim was simple: make engineering visible, relatable and accessible earlier in education, before social expectations begin influencing career choices.

Although she believes there is now greater awareness and support around women entering STEM careers, she also recognises that facilities management is still a heavily male-dominated sector in many areas.

What has encouraged her throughout her own career is the support she has experienced from colleagues and leaders within the business. She describes the culture within FM as increasingly inclusive, with people more aware of the importance of representation, support and building environments where colleagues feel respected and heard.

She also believes diverse perspectives strengthen decision-making and improve how teams operate together.

Building the Next Generation of Engineering Talent

For young women considering a future in engineering, sustainability or FM, Eloise’s advice centres on curiosity and confidence.

She encourages them to keep asking questions, stay engaged in subjects that interest them and connect with others already working in the industry.

Mentorship, visibility and representation remain important themes throughout her story. She believes supportive leadership and inclusive cultures play a major role in helping more women progress into engineering careers.

Looking ahead, she hopes to see more women in leadership positions across engineering and facilities management, particularly in strategic and decision-making roles in which future industry direction is shaped.

As International Women in Engineering Day highlights the contribution of women across the sector, Eloise’s story reflects the value of representation, curiosity and collaboration in shaping the future of facilities management and engineering.