To coincide with International Women in Engineering Day [23rd June 2024] organisations from across the STEM industries have announced their intention to work together to empower women in UK engineering and manufacturing.
This pledge to increase collaboration is the result of a roundtable hosted by Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, the charity dedicated to helping employers in the engineering and manufacturing sector find new ways to close skills gaps, which was attended by senior representatives from organisations such as Construction Inclusion Coalition, Energy & Utility Skills, Women’s Engineering Society, Women in Sustainability Network, and Womens Utilities Network.
Chaired by Karen Boswell OBE, Managing Director of Baxi UK and Ireland, who in her career as a senior leader running engineering and manufacturing businesses has passionately advocated for diversity and inclusion, the participants discussed challenges facing women in the engineering and manufacturing sector, including the need for increased gender diversity and the issue of mid-career leavers. According to a recent study by Engineering UK, the proportion of women in engineering and technology roles has decreased from 16.5% to 15.7% in the past year, with a significant number of women leaving roles between the ages of 35 to 44.
Reflecting on this worrying trend, the participants discussed other challenges facing women in the engineering and manufacturing sector, underscoring the necessity for enhanced collaboration and the need to unite industries within the engineering and manufacturing sector. While acknowledging the unique needs of the different industries, the participants agreed to work together given the pressing need for a more unified and inclusive representation.