News / Femtech
Meet the Bristol engineer tackling everyday problems faced by women
Frenchay-based engineer Laura Tuck is on a mission to develop solutions to issues affecting women, from pelvic floor dysfunction and tackling queues for women’s toilets at festivals to reducing domestic workloads, particularly in developing countries.
The University of Cambridge graduate first found her spark for design and engineering at school in the Midlands, where Design & Technology (DT) was one of her favourite subjects. Inspired by a DT teacher and brands such as Dyson, she developed an early interest in engineering.
Laura recently spoke to Bristol24/7 just before flying to India to promote her latest venture, The Washing Machine Project, where she is head of research and development.
“I loved DT at school and was inspired by the brands and designers my teacher championed – Alessi, OXO, Ikea and Dyson,” she said.
Frenchay-based engineer Laura Tuck is on a mission to develop solutions to issues affecting women – photo: Laura Tuck
“Having grown up with a DC01 at home, I really admired both the brand and James for creating products that integrated so seamlessly into everyday life.”
Despite this early inspiration, she did not see herself becoming an engineer until a sixth-form scholarship gave her work experience with engineering firms.
“I immediately fell in love with the combination of creativity, technical challenge and problem-solving that engineering offers,” she said.
“While studying, I secured a placement at Dyson as a design engineer and quickly realised that was where I wanted to begin my career.”
After graduating from Cambridge, she returned to Dyson before gradually relocating to Malmesbury and then Bristol.
“I graduated with an offer from Dyson and moved to Malmesbury to be close to the office,” she said. “Over time I heard more about Bristol and slowly moved closer until eventually settling in Frenchay.”
She has no plans to leave.
The Washing Machine Project, led by Navjot Sawhney, at their headquarters in Easton – photo: The Washing Machine Project
For Laura, Bristol has become more than just a place to work. She points to its engineering heritage, startup culture, universities, incubators and social enterprises as part of what makes it “the place to be” for a young engineer.
She says Bristol’s engineering heritage, startup culture and diverse creative scene make it an ideal place for engineers.
She welcomed the increased representation of women in engineering and wider STEM, but stressed the need for women not just in the workforce, but in research and design leadership roles.
Before the Washing Machine Project, Laura worked with a range of female-founded Bristol startups, including Peequal and Elvie.
The former, founded by University of Bristol graduates Amber Probyn and Hazel McShane, created female-friendly urinals designed to reduce festival queue times. Elvie focuses on improving women’s pelvic floor health.
Laura described the rise of female-led femtech companies as a “renaissance”.
“I’ve worked across a range of businesses, from Dyson to startups and mission-led organisations including Elvie, Peequal and the Washing Machine Project,” she said.
“My passion lies in designing products that make day-to-day life easier for women. Femtech is a rapidly growing industry, and Bristol is home to some incredibly innovative companies in that space.
“At Elvie, I worked on women’s health and wellbeing products, helping develop technology for challenges like breastfeeding and pelvic floor health.
“Dyson was an amazing place to start, but I’ve found my real passion in smaller, purpose-driven teams. Peequal really embodies that spirit.”
In 2022, Laura joined the Washing Machine Project, founded by Navjot Sawhney in 2018.
Inspired by his work in India, he developed a manual washing machine designed for communities with limited access to water and electricity, where women often spend hours washing clothes by hand.
Laura is the head of research and development at The Washing Machine Project – photo: Milan Perera
Laura now leads research and development at the project, focused on off-grid washing solutions that reduce the physical burden of domestic labour in low-income and displaced communities.
“One of the most rewarding parts has been hearing women describe the product as ‘empowering’ and a ‘game changer’,” she said.
“It’s incredibly fulfilling to work on products that solve real, everyday problems.”
She has also seen significant change in the sector over the past 15 years.
Recently Laura won the Young Engineers of the Year 2026, awarded by the Royal Academy of Engineering. She was one of one of five rising talents of the country to be awarded the accolade.
“In my earliest roles I was often the only woman in the room and would be mistaken for a receptionist or administrator rather than an engineer. That has definitely started to shift.”
But she warns against complacency.
Around half of the global population still wash their clothes by hand, with the burden of washing disproportionately falling on women, The Washing Machine Project has made a huge difference for many women around the world – photo: The Washing Machine Project
“There’s still a lot of work to do. After years of progress, we’re now seeing a decline in the number of women in engineering.
“While I’ve been fortunate to find inclusive environments, there are still many where women feel excluded or pushed out. Visibility, representation and supportive workplace cultures remain essential.”
Main photo: The Washing Machine Project
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