After college she got a position as Assistant Metallurgist in Harley, Surrey for the Lanston Monotype Company Ltd. While she was there, the mechanical team assisted her to keep her motorbike maintained. She used it to commute to work. In 1926 Heywood became a member of the Women’s Engineering Society and joined the council in 1928.[1][2][3]
Heywood married Harold Heywood in 1932. She retired from work on her marriage and they had 3 children, Prof. John Heywood, Jennifer Clark, and Richard Heywood. She continued to be an active researcher and a member of the Women's Engineering Society and spoke at engineering conferences.[4] She emphasised how women had been involved in engineering and metallurgy by pointing to the 1840 census which listed 469 female blacksmiths and 322 women smelters. Heywood also supported the education of women and contributed to the Central Employment Bureau girl's career guide on engineering. She was on the board of a variety of schools and colleges which included Bedford College and Dartford Technical College.
Heywood went on to become president of the Women's Engineering Society in 1948, succeeding Winifred Hackett and succeeded by Sheila Leather.[1][5][3] She introduced fellow metallurgist Ella Mary Collin to the work of the organisation.[6]
