Women encouraged to be engineers

Women in the UK are being encouraged to choose engineering as their career options. The ‘Women in Engineering’ campaign aims to give females the opportunity to discover more about the industry and […]

Women in the UK are being encouraged to choose engineering as their career options.

The ‘Women in Engineering’ campaign aims to give females the opportunity to discover more about the industry and the opportunities it offers to them.

It also helps find ways to encourage more women to select engineering courses at university.

Women from across the construction and engineering industry met yesterday as part of a skills summit supporting Women in Engineering Day.

According to the Department of Transport, women make up only 18% of the rail workforce and around 4% of train drivers and railway engineers.

It is also estimated 22,000 qualified women have not returned to the engineering sector after a career or maternity break.

Transport Minister Lord Ahmad said: “Women currently make up a tiny proportion of our surveyors, engineers and construction professionals. We need to overhaul the sector’s image so engineering and construction are a more attractive career option for women. A diverse workforce means a more successful workforce, which is why I am backing this campaign.”

Research from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) also revealed only 7% of UK parents said their daughters would apply for an engineering career.

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