[1] The society was formed on 23 June 1919, after the First World War, during which many women had taken up roles in engineering to replace men who were involved in the military effort.

[1] Pilot and engineer, Amy Johnson, who was the first woman to fly solo from the United Kingdom to Australia, was a member of WES and served as president between 1935 and 1937.

The work of the groups focuses on: The society produces the journal The Woman Engineer which was edited by Caroline Haslett in its early years.

[14] The journal contained technical articles in its early years but now gives a view of work in engineering disciplines and women's involvement in them.

In 1969, President Verena Holmes left a legacy to fund an annual lecture to inspire school girls.

[21] MentorSET is a mentoring scheme for engineers, inspired by the WES President Petra Gratton (née Godwin) in 2000.

Members are drawn from women who have entered the profession through routes varying from traditional apprenticeship to higher education leading to graduate and further degrees.