Women in Engineering

With the growth in the engineering sector in the last few years, the requirement of additional workers has led to an increasingly diverse workforce especially with the inclusion of women. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) sector has traditionally been male dominated. Guest article written by Rachel Gray, Copywriter for Newcastle College.

There are a host of STEM careers outside the traditional academic pathway, giving young scientists more options than they might have initially thought of. Here, experts from the Graphene Flagship European project explore some of the alternatives available.

Sandvik’s newly appointed executive management member, Nadine Crauwels, has been inducted into The Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Hall of Fame. The induction celebrates Crauwel’s exceptional contributions to the manufacturing sector - at a time when women represent just a third of the world’s STEM graduates.

To celebrate Ada Lovelace Day, six young female engineers have been announced as finalists for the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards 2020. These engineering industry awards celebrate women working in modern engineering - and aim to help change the perception that engineering is predominantly a career for men by banishing outdated engineering stereotypes of hard hats and dirty overalls.  

I’m sure by now you know I am passionate about encouraging more females into the tech sector, and we have discussed in previous columns the approaches that help the issue. One of which is encouraging more young females in and nurturing them to grow and hopefully retain them. I got the chance to speak to not one, but two young females in the technology industry and it was so refreshing to hear some positive aspects and stories of young girls not only working in tech but genuinely enjoying it.

According to the latest statistics by Engineering UK, 42% of girls between 14 and 16 would consider a career in engineering. However, only 12.37% of UK engineers are women. The organisers of Advanced Engineering UK have talked to Dr Lina Huertas, Head of Technology Strategy at The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), about her exciting career and about what educators and employers can do to reduce the gender gap.

Science has been the driving force in the modernisation of the world as we know it, yet science as an industry has failed to adequately diversify with the times. While the new digital age offers opportunities to expand interest in and appeal of STEM careers, many barriers still hinder equitable access for all students.

Manufacturing has been a male bastion for centuries. Over the years this has changed and although there is still a long way to go women are now represented in many manufacturing disciplines. Siemens is constantly striving to build an innovative and diverse culture. With a 78% male employee base in the UK there is still an urgent need to attract women to the company and to engineering and manufacturing in general.

To mark International Women in Engineering Day 2020, Farnell talked to women across its global operations to celebrate their achievements within the industry and discuss key topics such as gender diversity in the workplace. Fourteen women leaders working within Farnell joined the discussion from different parts of the world. The aim of the collaboration was to bring forward their shared experiences, journeys and challenges to help aspiring women who want to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) within their career.

To mark this year’s International Women in Engineering Day (June 23rd), Dame Judith Hackitt, Chair of Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, is calling on female engineers across the UK to join its diverse and talented intake of apprentices, to meet the ongoing challenges that both the sector and UK now face.