{"id":12840,"date":"2019-06-19T07:00:45","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T06:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.engineernewsnetwork.com\/blog\/?p=12840"},"modified":"2019-06-24T12:10:07","modified_gmt":"2019-06-24T11:10:07","slug":"one-hundred-years-of-female-engineers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.engineernewsnetwork.com\/blog\/one-hundred-years-of-female-engineers\/","title":{"rendered":"One hundred years of female engineers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Helen Marston looks at the role of women in engineering, and what can be done to help promote their presence in the industry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200bWith Women in Engineering Day this Sunday (23rd June), it\u2019s important to reflect on female talent in the industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Women\u2019s Engineering Society celebrates its centenary this year, yet despite efforts to encourage women into engineering, their presence has often felt overlooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who has driven in a storm can attest to the importance of windshield wipers. This essential invention was created by Mary Anderson and became a fixture in most vehicles by 1916. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While windscreen wipers, computer software, space station batteries and the circular saw can all be credited to female engineers, females in the engineering workforce are still few and far between.      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Women\u2019s Engineering Society (WES), only 12% of engineers in the United Kingdom are women \u2014 the lowest percentage in Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although countries such as Latvia, Bulgaria and Cyprus have much smaller economies than the UK, they are home to a far more bounteous number of female engineers, with women making up almost 30% of the engineering workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrating the centenary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded on June 23rd, 1919, WES was created to encourage women into roles such as munitions and other manufacturing work as men were drafted into the army. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group of influential women received government backing to support female engineers who, despite their wartime efforts, were under pressure to hand their positions back to men returning from the forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The society celebrates its hundredth year in 2019, and continues to support and encourage female engineers to achieve their potential. In this landmark year, what can be done to promote and nurture female engineers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tap into talent<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remarking on International Women\u2019s Day, Hilary Clinton once exclaimed that \u201cwomen are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world\u201d. While we cannot argue that society hosts a wealth of talent from men and women alike, it rings true that females experience greater rebuke when striving for a career in STEM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The industry is still gripped with the skills gap dilemma. In 2017, just 15.1% of UK engineering graduates were women and around 20% of A-level physics students are female \u2014 a figure that hasn\u2019t changed in 25 years. It\u2019s no secret that we need more skilled workers in order for the UK\u2019s industry to thrive, and organisations need to act to help facilitate opportunities for new talent.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harnessing potential<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offering student work placements provides a huge advantage to the industry, as they can develop practical skills and support the business with their enthusiasm and up-to-date academic knowledge. This often leads to full time positions with the placement organisation, helping young people build rewarding and successful careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m just one example of student placement success, after joining Cressall for a year during my third year at university. I was offered a full-time position post-study in the first six weeks of my placement and have worked at Cressall as a technical designer for almost fourteen years since graduating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew from a young age that I wanted a career in the engineering industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, at school, I\u2019d spoken to a careers advisor and they provided me with information that, had I followed it, would have prevented me from pursuing the career in engineering that I wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the well-publicised engineering skills gap, many students simply aren\u2019t provided with the right information when it matters most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Providing teachers and careers advisors with the correct information will mean that students today won\u2019t inadvertently be guided off the course of an engineering career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s the creation of fundamental inventions, or encouraging other women to pursue a career in the industry \u2014 we\u2019d be lost without female engineers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate the achievements and presence of talented women in the engineering industry, it is vital that we look to the future and act to inspire and support talented young engineers \u2014 male and female.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helen Marston is an engineer at power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistor<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Helen Marston looks at the role of women in engineering, and what can be done to help promote their presence in the industry \u200bWith Women in Engineering Day this Sunday (23rd June), it\u2019s important to reflect on female talent in the industry. 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