Monday 24/06/19 How new Coding clubs: Femtech: the theguardian.com/women-in-engineering-2019 initiatives are helping to market taking equalising music’s diversify the the digital gender imbalance tech sector industry by storm page 4-5 page 6 page 9

Engineering: time for change

How women are making a difference

SUPPORTED BY The Guardian Monday 24 June 2019 Monday 24 June 2019 The Guardian Women in engineering 

Inside Introduction Comment Coco Khan Women in engineering Naomi Climer Page 4-5 Audio engineering New initiatives to increase the number of female engineers Page 6-7 Coding clubs ‘It’s an exciting Providing excluded communities and people from Women are entering the ‘We need to stop boxing disadvantaged backgrounds with tech skills and employment Page 9 Femtech time for females The steady rise of female-run apps starting a tech revolution sector in growing numbers people into stereotypes’ Page 10 Women in energy Improving diversity in the sector is a must, say experts he image of the engineer is slowly changing. No longer the preserve of men in yellow to join the sector’ f there was a single key to levelling the gender Page 15 Construction Are subconscious stereotypes holding women back? hard hats and hi-vis jackets, engineering is imbalance in engineering and technology careers, now a career taken up by a diverse group we’d have cracked it by now. Plenty of evidence Page 16 Civil engineering of people in a multitude of environments – Although the industry is still rewarding, according to a 2013 shows programming of prejudice starts with How the industry can overcome prejudice against females from energy engineers working on a rig, to survey by the Royal Academy babies, and girls begin to be put o engineering Page 17 Diary of a new starter Tsound engineers at Glastonbury festival. dominated by men, ongoing of Engineering. between the ages of ve and nine. Female engineers share their rst job experiences Women are entering the sector in growing numbers. activism and pressure from Yet, despite good prospects – IWe need a shift in thinking so people are treated as Currently they make up 12% of all engineers, up 2% on engineering students are second individuals from birth rather than pigeonholed. There are Page 18 Future engineers young women is having 2015. However, this is low compared with nations such only to medics in securing full-time many good initiatives targeting teenagers – we just need Can education professionals solve the engineering skills as Latvia and Cyprus, where women make up 30% of positive eff ects on closing jobs and earning good salaries – the to reach younger children. shortage by inspiring pupils to get into the sector? the engineering workforce, and there is still much work the gender gap number of women working in the I wish in this country we had a broader education – a Page 19 Maths anxiety to be done to encourage women to enter – and remain sector remains woefully low. mix of humanities and sciences – for longer. It troubles How the little-known problem a ecting a third of students in – the profession. “Women make up just 12.3% of all me that by the time you are 16, you’ve already narrowed is stopping people entering Stem industries In this supplement, we look at some of the barriers Heidi Scrimgeour engineers in the UK, and only one your learning, and by sixth form it’s even narrower. I’m Page 21 Apprenticeships women face, from education to gendered pay to in ve of jobs are held by women pretty sure we’re not teaching children the right skills Improving awareness could signi cantly increase female working as a parent, and meet women who have in the wider engineering sector as for the future. interest, resulting in a more gender-equal industry beaten the odds and thrived in engineering. We look ngineering is dominated a whole,” says Elizabeth Donnelly, Engineers and technologists need a background in arts at the boom in female-focused coding clubs creating by men, but the women CEO of the Women’s Engineering and humanities so that when they come to design and Page 22-23 Di erent generations a generation of software engineers; and electrical successfully breaking Society (WES), a charity and innovate, they’re thinking of wider societal impact and Parent and daughter duos share their personal engineering engineer Ozak Esu discusses the importance of getting into the sector report professional network that celebrates unexpected outcomes of what they’ve created. experiences – and why they chose the sector BAME women into the sector. We also focus on how good things. Barriers its centenary this year. And if we all had a better understanding of science, apprenticeships have delivered a new route into the to entry for women are Attracting more female talent technology, engineering and maths, we’d be in a position      .          ,    . / - profession and hear from young women working on Enumerable, but career satisfaction to the UK engineering sector – and to hold technologies to account and help steer the their rst engineering job, whose hopeful testimonials is high; more than 80% of female retaining those people – is vital for direction they are taking our lives in. :  ,    :    speak to a sector changing for the better. There is still engineers are either happy or economic growth and nancial Recently, for instance, we saw a bunch of politicians  :     :    much work to be done, but the wheels have certainly extremely happy with their career stability. Britain su ers from trying to hold Facebook to account – a Commons  : .@ . been set in motion. choice, and 98% nd their job an acute shortage of engineers committee held an inquiry into fake news that lasted the forefront of designing creative Howlett, a mechanical engineering ▲ Inspiring girls more than a year and reported in February – and the ‘Engineering has an solutions to the world’s problems,” student, who will join the European from a young questions they asked showed how little they understood she says. Space Agency when she graduates, age about the of how these things work. eff ect on all our lives Those messages dissuade girls and is one of the top 50 women creative aspects Research shows girls tend to be more interested in  that’s why the sector from studying subjects required under 35 in engineering in the of engineering is solving world problems. According to research by PwC, for engineering careers. Among country. “That’s why the sector key to attracting half of women said the most important factor when needs to represent girls aged 11-14, almost half needs greater diversity; we need it to more women choosing a future career is “feeling like the work I do society as a whole’ (46.4%) would consider a career in better represent society as a whole.” to the sector makes the world a better place” – although there are engineering, compared with 70.3% Nonetheless, sustained e orts  :  plenty of men who feel this way, too. Engineering careers Jodie Howlett of boys. But this drops to 25.4% of to persuade women to pursue are exciting – there’s lots of engineering linked to climate Engineering student girls aged 16-18, compared with engineering careers are yielding change, for instance. If we can get girls to understand 51.9% of boys. At A-level, girls make fruit, albeit slowly. “When WES that they could make a di erence, then they’d be able to Apply for – 1.8 million new engineers and up just 22% of physics students. started in 1919, there were no female see a path for themselves. The Future technicians are needed by 2025 – as Yet, girls outperform boys in engineers, and 50 years later only But it’s the usual story: we need more visible role well as a “leaky pipeline”, meaning engineering elds of study. “In all half a percent of all engineers in the models – more successful young women – and we The IET Young women often fail to continue to Stem A-levels, except chemistry, UK were women,” adds Donnelly. need to do a far better job of progress their engineering careers. more girls get A*-C grades than boys, “Now, we’re beginning to make explaining the wide range of Award-winning chartered and this pattern continues at degree quite considerable inroads, so it’s ‘If we can get girls engineering possibilities. electrical engineer Kerrine Bryan level,” says Donnelly. “Almost 80% an exciting time to join a sector that to understand that I didn’t understand what Woman Engineer believes addressing the sector’s of female engineering students will will change radically over the next engineering was when I fell into diversity problem is key to closing get a rst or an upper second-class 50 years.” they could make a it. My dad was an engineer and the skills gap. To help tackle degree, compared with 74.6% of There’s positive news from diff erence, then they’d I didn’t nd it appealing. But it’s of the Year Awards. the issue at the roots, she began male students. the sector when it comes to pay much broader. Whether you want is Here. publishing career-themed children’s “Engineering involves everyone parity, too. The gender pay gap for be able to see a path to become an astronaut, get into books, including My Mummy Is and has an e ect on all our lives, engineering sector occupations is for themselves’ clothing design or, as I did, into Where lives and perceptions An Engineer. whether it’s biomedical engineering 18.7% – more than double the UK’s television … you name the industry “We’re losing potential engineers when you have a surgical procedure, average pay gap of 8.6% – but among and there’ll be an engineering career are changed. at every stage of life, and it starts or electrical engineering when graduates, the pay gap for rst in it. I was attracted to the BBC from a young age because bias and you’re watching TV,” says Jodie salaries is just 1.19%. because it sounded creative. misconceptions in media and toys “It’s very exciting that women I went on to work for myself, and ended up building an often implant ideas into children’s starting a career in engineering can independent radio station on Guernsey as the chief and minds that engineering is for men Female engineers expect to earn the same as their male only engineer. When I joined Sony, I got noticed for doing and involves getting your hands in numbers counterparts,” says Donnelly. what, in retrospect, was making bold decisions, and dirty and xing things, which In 2017, the median basic salary this helped me progress. As president of the Institution Enter by: 7 July 2019 doesn’t appeal to girls if they’re for engineering professionals of Engineering and Technology (IET) for a year, I hope brought up to believe they should (engineers, architects, surveyors) I helped chip away at the problem of attracting women. be quiet, neat and tidy,” she says. was £35,000 for women and £41,545 As a visible role model, it was great to send a message Lucy Gill, a quali ed engineer, 6.1m for men, and this gap widens to younger women. It’s easy to apply and free Stem ambassador and founder The number of engineering jobs in considerably at director level, with All of our working lives will change. Millennials will of Digills consulting, agrees the UK women paid on average £20,000 change careers and take more breaks, as we live for that inspiring girls from a young less than men, according to a 2017 longer. And that will really help women, who’ve been to enter, apply online at age about the creative aspect of salary survey. disadvantaged by taking time out to have children. engineering is key to recruiting more “And as more women enter the I struggle when people ask me what it’s like to be a women to the sector. sector, I think we’ll see the pay gap woman in engineering – I have other attributes, it’s just theiet.org/ywe “There’s so much embedded in 12% at director level closing. Ongoing one side of me. I long for the time when we treat people our culture saying engineering isn’t The percentage of female engineers activism and pressure from young as individuals rather than boxing them into stereotypes. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is registered as a Charity in England and Wales (No. 211014) for girls, and people still think of in the UK women mean it’s likely to reduce and Scotland (No. SC038698). Michael Faraday House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2AY, United Kingdom. engineers as the men who x your quite dramatically, I suspect, over Naomi Climer is the co-chair at the Institute for the washing machine, not the people at Source: EngineeringUK the next 10 years.” Future of Work. She was interviewed by Helena Pozniak The Guardian Monday 24 June 2019 Monday 24 June 2019 The Guardian 4 Women in engineering 5 ▼ Beth O’Leary discovered her passion for sound engineering after taking part in uni club nights photograph: Christopher l proctor Experience Audio engineering ‘You lift with your mind, ‘There were no not with your muscles’ Two female sound engineers There’s something very satisfying about getting the sound right. When explain why they chose a you see the crowd and how elated role models to career in a male-dominated they can get just by hearing music, industry – and how they deal it’s really rewarding. I like knowing I’m part of that. And being able to with discrimination work with the same bands every day cling to’ is a real pleasure – that’s what I love about tour. You get to know them, Interviews by Naomi Larsson you get to know their music. If you’re with the right group of people, tour is At a time when less than 5% told: ‘Oh, I’ve never worked with really fun. It’s like a travelling circus a woman before’ doesn’t feel like iversity in music has with people who become your family. of audio engineers are female, a compliment – it just makes me come a long way on There’s a lovely, welcoming crew new initiatives aim to make feel like I have to do a lot of work to stage, but off stage it’s for Minogue. But out of a technical the industry a level playing rebalance this whole mess.” a different picture: crew of 41, there are three women. Salogni also says the concept in the UK, just 5% And that’s good by touring standards. field for women of what a recording studio used to of audio engineers I think a lot of people say it’s be like at the height of rock’n’roll Dare women. When it comes to live just that women aren’t interested. patriarchy (“a sexist man cave”) can shows, women are having to face And a lot of people say we need Tara Joshi still affect the dynamic, not only in discriminatory stereotypes that to encourage women into Stem terms of how she feels in that space, they “can’t hack tour”, that working subjects, but I think that’s just but how she is perceived there – she on live tours is too physically and passing the buck on to the next direction, but there’s a long way to go rock shows – I once toured the Pink hen most people notes that if women are expecting to emotionally demanding, that it’s very generation. There’s plenty of women to improve diversity in the technical ‘Things are going in Floyd tribute band, and listening to think of a sound feel uncomfortable in a space, then much a man’s world. But a number who tried to make it in the industry world – even though there’s more that music every day was wonderful. engineer, the not all of them are going to be up for of women have been making waves and just gave up and left. I’ve even diversity on stage now. the right direction – One of the reasons I got into this was person that fighting to be there. in the industry for years. Here, two questioned why I’m still here at but there’s still a long because I didn’t want to pay for gig springs to mind “People have come to the studio, engineers, who have worked with times. Most people are lovely and Kim Watson tickets all the time. is a man: be it they’ll look around and try to the likes of Blondie, the Subways and supportive, and while the whole Sound engineer way to go to improve I started when I was 19. I did music Win a recording studio or behind the understand why I’m there, what Arcade Fire, share their experiences industry is getting more inclusive, diversity in tech’ production at college and from sound desk at a live performance. my role could be. And you can feel of working on live shows. there is still sexism – both personal From 2008 onwards, I’ve just been there met a sound company, and I Even the language used is often that on yourself, obviously – that and systemic. pretty much on the road. I’ll do Beth O’Leary was taken on and had a mentor for a gendered: “the sound guy”. person is doubting you,” Salogni Beth O’Leary There’s no innate reason why everything from front-of-house Sound engineer long time. Once I started working for Technical roles in music in general – says. “Subconsciously, I hold on to Live sound technician and engineer women don’t hack it on tour. It sound – which is what everyone hears him, I knew this was exactly what I producers and mixers, for example that prejudice – I used to be really usually involves heavy lifting, but in – to sound monitoring, which is what wanted to be doing. He taught me: – are almost always perceived as the worried people would come into Lizzy Ellis from the organisation ▲ Sound Growing up in Ireland, the music this day and age of risk assessments the band hears. you lift with your mind, not with your realm of men. the studio and think I was not good explains: “When I did music tech engineer Marta Everything you need to know about scene wasn’t very big and I wasn’t and manual handling training, that is I did studio stuff early on, but muscles. He was right. Like most stereotypes, this enough, because I am a woman, or at college, I was the only girl in the Salogni became sound engineering used to big production shows, so becoming more manageable, too. repeating the same songs over and In the early days, the equipment has a basis in fact – in both North that I’m not in charge, because I’m class – so I think we’ve certainly fascinated it didn’t occur to me that sound There’s not that many women on over again got boring – whereas live was a lot heavier, but now there’s a lot America and the UK, for example, a woman.” managed to create an environment by sound engineering could be a career path. tour because it’s competitive and sound is very instantaneous. There’s less of it and it’s less heavy, which has it’s a regularly repeated statistic While representation is that’s much less intimidating for engineering from Sound engineering is the process by which all the I went to university in Sheffield to there aren’t enough women coming much more energy to it. It’s more given women a lot more access to this that less than 5% of audio engineers important, waiting on meritocracy women, that’s accepting people a young age elements of audio or a live performance are recorded study zoology, but I got involved with in in the first place. Sometimes exciting. And as a monitor engineer, side of the industry. I can fly a whole are women. Unfortunately, this is isn’t enough to redress the wherever they’re at.” and/or pieced together to sound as refined as possible: club nights and music events at the women aren’t made to feel welcome, you’re on the side of the stage with PA system pretty much on my own not a number that has changed with balance, Salogni says, alluding In addition to the issues of so that’s everything from knowing the acoustics of students’ union and ended up going so they’re either not getting the the band, so you see a show you now, without the help of a crew. any great significance over the past to the necessity for positive representation and a potential a room, to deciding on the levels, knowing which into sound instead. opportunity to go on tour, or if they’re wouldn’t normally see. ▼ Kim Watson says there’s more A lot of that has really helped two decades. discrimination. More and more lack of respect from men in the microphones to use and where best to place them. I’m a freelancer, so my work quitting it’s because someone’s made I’ve been on tour with Blondie, physical and emotional support for because, back then, I was assumed So what is it about music tech that schemes are coming into place to industry, Ellis posits that jobs in changes for every job. At the life difficult for them. Emeli Sandé and the Subways, but both men and women than ever before to be a colleague’s girlfriend, or just makes the numbers so strikingly try to make this a reality – Spotify sound engineering can often require Producing was once a very separate role from moment, I’m a monitor engineer It’s definitely going in the right my guilty pleasure is progressive photograph: christopher l proctor somebody he was hanging out with. disparate between men and women? launched the EQL Directory in “unsociable and long hours”, engineering but, increasingly, it now crosses over. for Kylie Minogue – we do in-ear People didn’t think I was part of the In part, it might well be a self- association with organisation especially for those working in Producers work with the artist on the track in a less monitors and throughout the show team. I’ve been literally pushed out of fulfilling stereotype. SoundGirls last year, providing the live arena who might be on technical way, helping to make the artistic choices I keep an eye on the band, make the way for a guy to jump on the desk. Firstly, a lack of representation a list of women and gender non- touring crews for long periods – so it’s making the track the best it can be, but sure they’re happy, and if they need As a young woman, there was a might make it seem an impossible conforming audio professionals. of time. “It doesn’t sit with the on a compositional level. For example, choosing anything changing, I’ll sort that out. lot of that, and I think a lot of women pursuit. Marta Salogni is a It is, as SoundGirls say on their standard idea of a family setup for the instrument that might sound best, suggesting As a monitor engineer, my goal is for would quit over that. professional sound engineer, website, “a useful tool when people women – which shouldn’t make a a different song structure, and coaxing the best people to forget that I’m there. If the The physical and emotional producer and mixer, whose body of say ‘they want to hire women but difference, but, unfortunately, it performance out of an artist. gig goes well, the band forgets about demands of tour plays both ways to work includes recordings with the can’t find any.’” often does. That’s part of a much me and can concentrate on putting both men and women. Especially in likes of The xx, Frank Ocean and Then there are organisations wider conversation, obviously.” Often, sound engineers are also the mixers – although on a good show. the music industry at the moment, Björk. Now based in London, it was such as Saffron – a Bristol-based Both Salogni and Ellis are also this too can be a separate job. Mixing is the final stage There’s a lot of technical conversations about mental health back in her village in Lombardy, group that’s part record label and aware that the push for inclusivity in – once the recording is finished, the mixer will take the knowledge that you need, but are becoming very public. I think for Italy, aged 16, when she became part educational facility for women, the audiosphere needs to go beyond files, or the tape, and create a balanced composition. everything can be learned. However, a long time there had been a lot of fascinated with the concept of founded by Laura Lewis-Paul in talking about women, too – no So, say there were nine microphones recording one you can’t just be a technical wizard – denial about this, but more recently sound engineering. “It made me a 2015. Among other things, Saffron statistics exist specifically breaking guitar, the mixer would have to take these nine you need people skills because you’re support is coming through. Touring little bit scared because I couldn’t runs “Saffron For Sound”, women- down the number of black, Asian different recordings and mix them together, and then looking after a band. It can be very is a lot of work, it’s very intense and cling on to any role model – there only courses in partnership with and minority ethnic (BAME) and/ – depending on what the composition calls for – mix difficult to explain sounds – we’re very fast. Days are normally from was no one to demonstrate that that dBs – a local music college – teaching or working class women in these in the other instruments, vocals, etc. They are also in very visual. So you need to be able 9am to midnight or 1am. There’s a lot career was possible, and I felt alone about music production software spaces, but Salogni notes the space charge of making the choices on volume levels and to interpret when a band member of downtime after tour and then a lot a lot of the time.” such as Ableton and Logic, as well is one dominated by “middle-class additional effects. is saying: “It sounds a bit crunchy.” of work. And we have a thing called In turn, she says, this may have as studio engineering. white people”. That requires skill. “tour comedown”: you come back been what pushed her to find other For now, hopefully initiatives If you’ve watched Netflix documentary The Defiant from tour – where everything is very people like her, and to succeed so such as Spotify and SoundGirls’ Ones, you will be aware there was once a time when regimented – and you’ve got to kind that it became more normal to see ‘When I studied music EQL Directory, development simply being available at all hours and learning by ‘The industry is of readjust to real life. The support women in these spaces. It’s been tech at college, I was platforms such as Saffron, and practising was how you became a sound engineer. becoming more hasn’t always been there. a fruitful pursuit – Salogni is one women dominating in the field can Nowadays, things are very different – in most cases, Now the industry is becoming of the most high-profile women the only girl – things help push the conversation forward. specific training is required in the appropriate professional – I think more professional – I think it’s in the field in Europe, and yet she The 5% statistic is one that Salogni technology and software (Pro Tools, for example), because of the introduction of finds this a strange position to be are less intimidating laughs off – she’s heard it so many be that in a higher education institution or an it’s because there’s women. I’ve earned respect. Mostly, in. “Going into this profession now’ times. “Hopefully in 10 years’ time, apprenticeship scheme. According to PayScale, the more women’ engineers will come in and go: “Ah, knowing you’re going to be unique we’ll be closer to 50-50 and women average salary for a sound engineer is £25,000 per it’s you, Kim, you’re looking after us means you’re put under a spotlight Lizzy Ellis won’t have to do interviews about annum, with stats suggesting the gender divide is Kim Watson today.” I’ve become known for being automatically,” she sighs. “Being Saffron this any more.” now 95% men and 5% women. Sound engineer a good engineer. The Guardian Monday 24 June 2019 Monday 24 June 2019 The Guardian Women in engineering  ▼ Code Club International o ers free coding classes for nine- to 13-year- olds around the world :      to teach. Quevedo says one of the Nasreen organisation’s target areas has AbdulJaleel’s Comment Coding clubs been women, and they achieved tech career 40% female attendance worldwide has taken Clare Sutcliff e through having “gender-neutral her around projects” and a focus on creativity. the world Diversifying the However, some believe that : education can only go so far in xing   ‘We need to teach the industry’s diversity issue. One of the biggest barriers to gender tech sector equality in the industry is the lack children creativity, of retention of women, suggesting that big structural changes are also As well as providing that evening,” she says. Today, she required. “Education is just a tiny intelligence and empathy’ is working as a website designer for sliver of the problems we have,” says employment, coding courses Dixons Carphone. Anisah Osman Britton, founder of 23 help to equip excluded Code Your Future is one of a new Code Street , which provides coding n the future world of work, many jobs will be communities with tech skills, batch of free or low-cost coding courses for women in the UK and automated. With that in mind, it makes sense clubs around the world outside of India. “We need to change the entire for humans to focus on work that can only while improving diversity traditional education establishments, industry culture.” be done by us, requiring emotions and skills with the aim of equipping excluded Cost can also be a prohibitive not replicable by machines, such as kindness, communities with tech skills. The factor in some cases. 23 Code Street empathy and creativity. Despite this, our current Jessica Bateman long-term goal is not just to provide provides prayer and mother’s rooms, Ieducation system focuses heavily on reading, writing employment opportunities, but to and has around 25% Muslim women and maths. They are certainly important, but focusing diversify the notoriously white and students, but Osman Britton says the only on these is to the detriment of building rounded fter Mona Azami came male-dominated tech industry. £1,500 the company charges for the people. In my opinion, so-called “soft skills” are, in to the UK from Iran in The organisation was founded course may be too much for some. fact, essential skills for the future world of work. We 2010, she spent ve in London and initially ran coding “We have some sponsored places and need to prepare our future generations for working years without the right courses for refugees, although we also have a payment plan option closely with machines by building their con dence in to work, then a further it now caters to anyone from a in place. This is the best solution working with them and their agency over them. three struggling to disadvantaged background. It has Ukraine. “We want to put a code we’ve come up with so far,” she says. To do this, children need exposure to opportunities A nd a job. “I was a graphic designer also just launched its programme ‘Education is just club in every community in the Others in the industry would like to experiment with computers and encouragement to before, but I found it very hard in the in Italy. Azami says that, as well as world, and teach children not just to see more engagement from the build their ideas with code. When I co-founded Code UK,” she says. “I didn’t know British teaching her to code, the course gave a tiny sliver of the to be consumers of technology but government on the issue. “There is Club in 2012, which provides opportunities for children culture or British brands, and my her CV and interview advice. problem we need creators too,” says Maria Quevedo, a real skills gap in tech and lots of to develop coding skills through free after-school clubs, English wasn’t so good.” One of the biggest organisations of managing director at the Raspberry Pi people are recruited from outside the aim wasn’t to turn every child into a programmer. It Initially she pursued low-skilled this kind is Code Club International , to change the entire Foundation, which runs the project. the UK,” says Code Your Future was to give them the con dence and the skills to work roles, but then a conversation with which supports more than 13,000 industry culture’ Volunteers have access to a co-founder Kash Karimi. “Yet, the with technology. a friend alerted her to Code Your free coding clubs for nine- to 13-year- full range of projects and courses government’s strategy, if you go to It shows children what they can do, and inspires Future , a free coding school for olds worldwide, including ones Anisah Osman Britton for free, and don’t need to know any job centre, seems to be to direct them to build ideas and be creative, giving them refugees. “I went online and applied in Syria, Bangladesh, Kenya and 23 Code Street how to code themselves in order people to low-skill jobs.” skills to help in their attitude and agency over technology. Teams of people building products and services with technology should  exibility – I once had a developer ‘Now, 40% of Code be representative of their users. A day in the life on my team who lived in a trailer and Therefore, we should be making the was travelling around the US. We Clubbers are girls, opportunity to attend programmes wouldn’t ever know exactly where such as Code Club available to ‘Tech careers give you he was, but it didn’t matter. These are which is a step in everyone, regardless of gender, so much fl exibility’ truly amazing jobs from a quality-of- the right direction  ethnicity and background. This was Engineering life perspective. but I believe we can really important to me when setting Every day we all post what we’re up Code Club, so every e ort was Working in tech gives experience in a uniform way, doing today, what we’re going to still do more’ made to make it gender-neutral. whatever they are buying and do tomorrow, and any blockers. Now, 40% of Code Clubbers are excellence you the chance to work whatever device they’re using. There This helps us stay connected, and girls, which is a step in the right from wherever you are, says are people working on it all across the is also very  exible. When a team direction – but we can still do more. Expedia’s senior director of globe, from Australia to Seattle. The accomplishes something, they record Changing the way we see education is complex total number goes into the hundreds, a mini video so everyone knows and cannot be laid at any one door. It’s like turning From world-class engineers to tech Nasreen AbdulJaleel but everyone works in small teams. what’s happened and can have a an oil tanker around – it takes a very long time and a Many use the “Spotify squad” model global celebration. I oversee small lot of conscious e ort. Teachers have a hard job as it brilliant data scientists, our talented of working, which is all about having teams of developers, ensuring what is, caused in part by the government, whose focus on Interview by Jessica Bateman clear objectives and allowing people they’re doing has a roadmap and that SATs and academic assessment means creative subjects people are committed to delivering to independently solve problems. their priorities are in line with the are often left to “ ll the gaps”, while a lack of funding We use Slack to communicate, business’s priorities. forces cuts to creative subjects such as art and music. innovative engineering and technology ’ve always loved physics which lets us work e ectively across We make sure we work normal However, if we fail to make changes now, we will face programmes that protect people in the and mathematics – I grew di erent time zones. You can have a days, so I’ll nish around six and signi cant problems in nding employment for large up watching a lot of science long conversation on there going on always take a lunch break. There’s groups of people in the future. UK and overseas. documentaries and found for days, and it’s actually richer than no one clocking me in or out as long The good news is that industry and the non-pro t them fascinating, and my talking face-to-face because you can as I deliver, and I can work from sector are working extremely hard to engage young We are committed to them – creating an family were very supportive dive in to comments that otherwise home whenever I need to. That people in what we call digital making. The Raspberry Iof my interests. I studied computer might get skipped over. environment of trust also creates a Pi Foundation, for example, recently brought together inclusive workplace where everyone science at university, which was Right now, I’m overseeing 10 greater sense of accountability. a consortium of partners to create the National Centre where I learnt how to code. I like the people in San Francisco, Seattle, My career has taken me around for Computing Education, funded by the Department can be their best. speed with which you can achieve London and India, who are ensuring the world. I relocated from Seattle for Education, to invest in the provision of computing something, and I nd it creative in the components for check-in and to London, and I recently opened education in England through courses, bursaries for Commitment where it counts. the same way I nd science creative check-out dates work in all languages an o ce for Expedia in Jordan with teachers, regional support networks and free resources. – it uses what we know about the and date systems. Some work a 50:50 gender split team. Expedia They are also working with the National Citizen Service laws of the world to solve problems. from o ces and some from home. employees also get the opportunity to to build a digital programme, helping young people Computers are critical for solving the Tech careers give you so much volunteer overseas, and we get great design solutions to social problems. problems currently facing our world. deals from the site. The company is The key to preparing young people to become My working day starts at 9.30am focused on achieving equal gender functioning members of society is to construct after I drop my son o at daycare. ‘Gender balance balance, which is something I see an education system that creates well-rounded, I oversee two parts of the Expedia increases creativity. as part of my life’s work – I’ve left emotionally mature people who use creativity, platform – one is related to our data jobs before because they weren’t intelligence and empathy to look after others. They analytics, which receives 1.8m People feel more interested in this problem. are the ones who will build machines to do our dirty messages a minute. The other is I see it increases the creativity work, as they should, leaving us to the do the work only to do with delivering fast visual relaxed and are able because there are more voices. humans can do: care and create. baesystems.com/careers experiences to our customers. For to speak more freely’ People also feel more relaxed and are Copyright© 2019 BAE Systems. All Rights Reserved. BAE SYSTEMS is a registered trademark this, we are currently building a able to speak more freely about their Clare Sutcli e is a social entrepreneur, consultant platform that will allow customers Nasreen AbdulJaleel lives, such as revealing they have and professional speaker. She was interviewed by to go through the Expedia shopping Expedia caring responsibilities at home. Ellen Manning Monday 24 June 2019 The Guardian Women in engineering

▼ The femtech boom is  nally changing the face of the women’s healthcare industry Femtech Woman The rise of women centred innovation

In a bid to make technology that it was this massively hidden epidemic for women,” says Boler. work for everyone, new “Most women don’t think about female run tech categories are their pelvic  oor until they start starting a digital revolution having a problem, and the problems they have are yucky ones that power nobody wants to talk about,” she says. “Starting Elvie was about Sabrina Faramarzi moving it towards something more positive, and that your pelvic  oor should be just as important as going e know that to the gym.” technology has “It’s just accepted that, as a historically woman, when you have a baby, been a eld you can no longer run or jump on a dominated by trampoline without peeing yourself, men. But things or that you’re not going to enjoy Ware starting to change. Whether your sex life, and it’s all put under they’re helping you learn about your this ‘women’s things’ umbrella, body, or arming you with the tools to and actually that’s what we need navigate the internet better, a whole to break open because a lot of those swath of female coders, makers things don’t have to be that way and engineers are making sure the at all.” “Empower yourself. You absolutely technology we interact with works Although femtech is growing, for everyone – not just men. there are other spaces that female deserve to be here. You have The space seeing the most action technologists are moving into to is one called “femtech”. Short for make sure that technology works something unique to bring. “female technology”, it’s a category for everyone. One of those spaces of technology that encompasses is voice technology. Charlotte Don’t be afraid to be di erent.” products, apps and other digital Webb is an ethical tech consultant services from companies focused who founded Feminist Internet, a :  : on women’s health. This includes non-pro t organisation that aims everything from fertility and to ght technological and internet intelligence chatbot. Initially Sarah Farmer, periods, to sex and pregnancy. The inequalities. Webb, who began her launched at the EY Innovation Five ways the tech industry is improving diversity term femtech was coined by Ida Tin, career as an academic and an artist, event in Boston, the chatbot takes Head of Service Delivery, founder of menstruation app Clue, wanted to change the way that the you through the ways that arti cial E.ON which enables people to track things tech sector not only discriminates intelligence is being built with O ering coding camps. Only 17% of the Digital Skills Innovation Fund – such as their weight, moods, sleep, against women in the workplace, biases in mind. the tech sector is made up of women , helping more women and minorities energy, cravings and bleeding. It is but also in the products we use Because only 22% of the people and addressing this imbalance has to get their tech projects, companies eon-uk-careers.com now a market expected to be worth every day, too. In one of their latest building AI right now are female, been a priority for the industry. To and products o the ground. $50bn (£39bn) by 2025. projects, members of Feminist making sure that the technology do this, companies are looking to One woman who has changed Internet designed an arti cial we interact with is not sexist, dismantle discriminatory workplace Flexible schedules and remote the space dramatically is Tania racist or homophobic is incredibly practices and help to skill women working. Technology has changed Boler, founder of Elvie, a company important. “Diversifying tech is with the technical training they the work landscape from stu y that sells two products: their massively about women, but it’s need. Funding has been pumped o ces and rigid schedules to more rst, launched in 2014, is a pelvic a lot more than that,” says Webb. into bootcamps to get people  uid and  exible ways of working.  oor trainer that allows women “There aren’t even any statistics equipped with basic coding and A recent report shows that 73% to do kegel exercises (repeatedly on the number of trans people or programming. School of Code (for of employees said  exible work contracting and relaxing the gender minorities in the big tech adults) and Codecademy (free) are arrangements increased their muscles that form part of the rms. There are on women, but the just a few of the courses available. satisfaction at work, and the tech pelvic  oor) and is connected fact that it’s not even considered as sector is at the forefront, opening via Bluetooth to their phones so a metric is awful.” Employing diversity o cers. A up ways of working for people who they can track their progress. Last Webb and her team are using recent study shows that companies need their jobs to work around September, they launched their technology to show its own in the top quartile for racial and children, caring responsibilities, second product, a hands-free, problems, and partnering with ethnic diversity were 35% more chronic illness or even long cordless, wearable breast pump people such as Josie Young, likely to have above-median commutes for those who can’t a ord that they debuted with a rather a feminist AI researcher who nancial returns, while another to live in inner-city areas. humorous advert. designed a guide to building a study found that inclusive teams On Mother’s Day in 2017, Elvie feminist chatbot. “Although the make better decisions 87% of the More jobs for people with put in atable breasts around internet has so much potential for time – and twice as fast. Many disabilities. Currently, the number Shoreditch in London as part of their human connection and positive companies are nally understanding of people with disabilities who #FreeTheFeed campaign to ght the social change, there are still a lot of the value of diverse teams and are have jobs stands at 36%, compared stigma around breastfeeding and problems that we need to address, hiring diversity o cers to make sure with 78% of people without pumping in public. such as online abuse, the inequality this is put into practice. Data from disabilities who are employed. “I’ve always seen myself as a in the tech sector and the systemic online jobs board Indeed found This needs to change, and as the campaigner for women’s rights and biases that are reproduced in AI an 18% increase in postings for tech sector is currently trying to I always wanted to do that through ‘I’ve always seen systems,” says Webb. diversity o cers from 2017 to 2018. create products to ease everyday research and science,” says Boler, myself as a women’s Much of the ght about getting problems for a variety of disabilities, who has a PhD in sexual health. She more women in technology – more Specialised grants and funding they are hiring people with those began her career by working with right campaigner, women of colour, of race, of sexual for women. According to a recent disabilities who know rst-hand governments on HIV prevention, through research orientations and abilities – is about report, the amount of funding going how those experiences a ect sex education and access to modern making sure that during this period to startups with a female founder people. For example, tech giant contraception, but it was only when and science’ of technological innovation, there has not increased since 2016. Google is actively making products she became a mother herself eight are women making, engineering and However, there are now a number for disabled people, and 7.5% of years ago that she learned about Tania Boler coding technology to make it work of specialised organisations – such their workforce identify as having pelvic  oor health. “I found out Elvie for them, too. as EnrichHER, or grants such as a disability. The Guardian Monday 24 June 2019 10 Women in engineering ▼ Award-winning electrical engineer Ozak Esu’s interest in electricity started as a child photograph: amit lennon Women in energy ‘We need more female role models’

With women accounting warm, travel, maintaining reliable healthcare systems, as well as for only 14% of the energy national safety and security – sector, experts believe the these are just a few things energy industry will be under threat provides,” she says. “Yet, as the global demand for energy increases if diversity doesn’t improve and the push for cleaner energy and new technology expands, the sector is struggling to keep pace because of Georgina Fuller the skills shortages in engineering.” Encouraging more women into the sector (the Global Energy he energy sector has Talent Index report 2019 found been in the spotlight that women account for only 14% of recently, with young, workers) is one way of closing the pioneering women skills gap, but gender barriers need such as Greta Thunberg to be overcome too, says Bryan. “Put campaigning to get simply, I believe the sector will be Tclimate change on the agenda – and unable to keep up with the demands receiving a plethora of misogynistic of the world if the diversity skills abuse for doing so. deficit continues.” So what is it like to work in the This change needs to start at the energy industry, where only 5% of grassroots, according to Bryan. executive board seats in UK-based “It begins with schools linking companies are held by women, subjects that are being taught with and 61% have no women at all on real jobs in society. This could be their board? enhanced by getting more BAME Sarah Merrick, founder and role models and Stem ambassadors CEO of Ripple Energy, says that into schools to talk about their the energy sector is going through work, which would help debunk any a seismic period of change. “By misconceptions children might have 2050, more than 80% of the UK’s that they can’t do such a job because with the construction industry, electricity could come from they don’t fit the mould, especially Experience eventually being able to bring her wind and solar,” she says. This BAME pupils and young girls.” PhD expertise to bear on the subject is good news for women and Louise Kingham, CEO of of “smart cities”. She is now the the environment, as the more the Energy Institute and board ‘My experience as a black technical lead at the BRE Centre for progressive “clean” energy member for POWERful Women Smart Homes and Buildings (CSHB). companies are, in Merrick’s (PfW) – a professional initiative that woman in the industry has Having won a string of awards experience, considerably more pledges to ensure 40% of middle for her work – including the Young egalitarian than the fossil and management and 30% of executive been positive’ Woman Engineer of the Year – she nuclear energy sector. “Having board positions in energy will be continues to champion the cause worked in renewables for more filled with women by 2030 – says the of getting BAME women into Stem than 20 years, I would say there’s rate of progress has been “glacial”. Electrical engineer Ozak Esu and water pollution playing on her careers. In addition to serving on the a stark difference in gender equity “We need more visible female mind from an early age. Athena Swan feasibility committee between clean energy and fossil fuel role models and we need louder, speaks of the importance of “I witnessed the pollution caused at Loughborough University, she has companies,” Merrick says. clearer leadership and targets,” getting BAME women into by households and businesses who been a panellist for the Association The more conservative fossil and Kingham says. “We also need Stem careers owned a private generator,” she says. for BME Engineers. nuclear energy sectors have an “old a range of internal policies and “There was also the fluctuating But she says that her age, rather boys’ club” culture, which has led to programmes – for example, on costs and scarcity of fuel, marked than her gender or race, has been businesses being overwhelmingly flexible working and changes to by long queues at petrol stations. I more of an issue for the 28-year-old. dominated by men, according to recruitment practice – to remove Interview by Mark Smith always had this belief that this wasn’t “I can only speak about my Merrick. “This area of the energy unconscious bias and become the case in other countries and that I personal experiences as a woman industry is lagging behind on consciously inclusive.” could do something to fix it.” and black person working within the the gender divide. However, Emma Bridge, chief executive of nderstanding the Arriving in the UK in 2008 at industry, and it has been positive. the renewable sector is still Community Energy England (CEE), reason behind Dr Ozak the age of 17 to study electronic I have been fortunate in my early relatively new, which means that a membership body representing Esu’s fascination with and electrical engineering at career to work with and be mentored culture has not had the time to fully more than 200 local community electricity is simple Loughborough University, she later and supported by cultured, well- develop, and women’s voices are energy generation schemes, points – as a child, she often graduated with a first-class degree informed engineers and managers.” not as overlooked.” out that it’s not just boardrooms didn’t have any. and won a £54,000 PhD studentship She adds: “Ageism has been a Kerrine Bryan, an electrical where women are unrepresented. UNow an award-winning electrical at the university, which she describes more prevalent occurrence – the engineer at WSP, says our everyday “In government, we have a woman, engineer, she grew up in Nigeria, as “her proudest achievement”. assumption that I am less competent life depends on the energy industry. Claire Perry MP, holding the position where the ability to do something With the energy sector reluctant to because I am young. I simply shrug “Everything from preparing and of minister of state for energy, yet, as simple as switch on the lights was sponsor UK working visas at the time, off these incidents by reflecting maintaining food, to keeping far too often when I attend events, dependent on her parents’ income. she got a foot on the career ladder on my achievements and personal am invited to speak on panels, “We went from lighting candles journey, from where I began to where or at a high-level policy meeting, with matchsticks, to kerosene I am now in my career.” ‘More women need unfortunately I’m the only woman,” lanterns, then rechargeable lamps. ‘I have been Her advice for any women from to be made aware she says. Eventually, my parents earned fortunate in my a BAME background is simple: “Go This means a range of opinions enough for us to own our private for it!” of the opportunities and ideas are not being heard; it diesel generator.” early career to work “Stem subjects provide so many also means a lack of role models. As a child, she recalls being career disciplines to choose from, available in the field “More women, particularly young conscious about protecting the with cultured, well- so I recommend attending careers of engineering’ women, need to be made aware of environment and of the challenges informed engineers’ fairs, seeking work experience the amazing opportunities available neighbouring African states faced opportunities and engaging with Emma Bridge in the fields of engineering and following the fallout of exploration Ozak Esu people within the industry to get a CEE energy generation.” for crude oil, with issues such as air CSHB feel for what’s involved.” Paid COntent

Left: Melissa Chigubu is an apprentice at the Manufacturing Technology Centre

managing facilities across the site, including automation, Atherton is passionate about mentoring women who’ve transitioned into the industry from facilities management.

Abbie Beaver AppRentIce fABRIcAtoR/WeldeR, AdI gRoup Current apprentice

Beaver joined a pre-apprenticeship programme at 14 and then the ADI Group two years later as its first-ever female apprentice. Her tenacity sets her apart, and last year she became one of six female engineers for WES’s campaign to promote engineering to primary school-age girls.

Jacinta caden BusIness development (euRope), cRItIcAl pRoJect seRvIces Former apprentice

Of all the fields in engineering, refrigeration remains one of the poorest for equal representation. Caden is the fourth woman ever appointed to the board of the 119-year- old Institute of Refrigeration (IOR), and now sits on the IOR’s steering group for women in the sector. Her experience also provided key insight for developing its new trailblazer standards for apprenticeships in the sector.

sophie caffrey technIcAl AppRentIce, leonARdo Top 50 Current apprentice Though only in her fourth year, Caffrey has already designed printed circuit boards that have been used in trials across the world. Last Women in engineering year, she was selected by Naomi Campbell to star in a Nike advert alongside nine other young women, whose work disrupted cultural Women are excelling across Katrina-Rose Allen stereotypes. She is studying for a degree in AppRentIce engIneeR, govIA ‘We want a world electronic engineering. a wide range of sectors in thAmeslInK RAIlWAy (gtR) ltd engineering, as demonstrated Current apprentice where women emily carr AppRentIce electRIcAl/ by this top 50 of current and Now in the third year of her apprenticeship, are as likely as InstRumentAtIon technIcIAn, gsK former apprentices Allen has already become a role model for Current apprentice apprenticeship hopefuls. After she appeared men to choose an n the UK in 2017, some 11% of in one of GTR’s videos, her story was featured Carr was recently shortlisted for a “young engineers were women – but given in Metro and the Evening Standard, and on engineering career’ talent in the chemical industry” award for her this figure stood at just 6% in 2011, BBC Surrey radio. Colleagues noted that work as a Stem ambassador in schools and was education and training in science, applications from women for next year’s recently selected to develop her leadership technology, engineering and maths scheme are up by more than 200%. skills on a Fieri course. Now in the third year of I(Stem) seems to be making headway. The an HNC programme, she hopes to become an latest figures from the Women into Science natalie Asimeng-gyan industry technician on completion. and Engineering (Wise) campaign show that engIneeRIng AppRentIce, gsK the number of women working in core Stem Current apprentice Rachael carr careers (including engineering) rose by senIoR systems engIneeR, BAe more than 60,000 between 2016 and 2017. After joining GSK’s automation team last systems Former apprentice After the government launched its new year [May 2018], Asimeng-Gyan didn’t take “trailblazer” scheme in 2013 to initiate long to impress colleagues. On a critical After Carr joined BAE in 2006, she moved industry-set standards in apprenticeships, cross-site project, she learned to configure swiftly through the company into a senior these pathways have played a key role control systems, follow wiring diagrams and PAID FOR BY engineering role, where she leads on in better representation for women in work successfully with external suppliers key responsibilities including platform engineering. Nevertheless, while women and contractors. The project went on to win airworthiness certification. A former currently make up approximately 12% an industry award. Now in her second year, BAE apprentice of the year, Carr is now a of engineers in the UK, just over 7% of Asimeng-Gyan has gone on to represent GSK mentor and performance coach to the next engineering apprentices are female. on projects in Europe and at careers events to generation of women at BAE. This year’s Top 50 Women in promote its apprenticeship scheme. Engineering highlights 22 current and 28 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH nicole chamberlain former apprentices at the forefront of UK natalie Atherton AutomAtIon And mes engIneeR, engineering, from HS2 to Typhoon jets Zone opeRAtIons mAnAgeR, sodexo nestlé Former apprentice and the 5G rollout. It was put together by Former apprentice the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), When Chamberlain started out, she was one of a charity that celebrates its centenary this Atherton impressed from the start: after just three women in a 100-person cohort, and year. Elizabeth Donnelly, its CEO, explains: completing an apprenticeship at AstraZeneca, the only female engineer in her workplace. “We want a world where women are as she won sponsorship for a degree, graduating But it was her dedication rather than her likely as men to choose an engineering in 2015. Now a chartered building services gender that stood out – most obviously in career, and it can be seen from this list engineer, she manages a £15m warehouse – her final year, when she was nominated for a that women are excelling across an one of AstraZeneca’s key assets – for Sodexo. future manufacturing award. Chamberlain now impressive range of sectors.” In charge of 12 staff and responsible for sits on the board of governors for Nestlé’s

See theguardian.com/paid-for-content for GNM’s commercial content guidelines Paid COntent

Clockwise from left: Billie Sequeira, technical apprentice at BAE systems; Courteney Stone, engineering technician apprentice at BMW; Catherine Leahy, apprentice corrosion technician, TWI; Natalie Asimeng-Gyan, engineering apprentice at GSK Top 50 Women in engineering

Jasmine Ewers paula McMahon undErgrAduATE EnginEEr, Wsp CHArTErEd CiviL EnginEEr, sir rOBErT Current apprentice MCALpinE Former apprentice

As a young female apprentice on HS2, Ewers An RSA and ICE fellow, McMahon uses her has now represented her peers in interviews experience on high-profile projects such as the on the BBC and ITV, as well as featuring in Thames Barrier in her work as a civil engineer. a short film for BBC Bitesize Careers about She previously managed the highways engineering apprenticeships. She’s also structures department and had significant written articles, attended careers fairs, and input into Highways England’s system for won the ICE Quest Technician Plus scholarship structural asset management. She currently for her writing. mentors more than two dozen candidates, and has been named a Wise role model. danielle flynn dEgrEE ApprEnTiCE, JAguAr LAnd Lauren Mcnaughton rOvEr Current apprentice ApprEnTiCE BuiLding sErviCEs EnginEEr, Arup The only female apprentice in her year Current apprentice apprenticeship scheme and mentors young at Halewood, Flynn excelled in her work women at her site. She is studying for a degree on equipment standards for car-making Now in her final year, McNaughton has in electrical and electronic engineering. machinery and was named Liverpool impressed colleagues and peers by taking apprentice of the year in 2018. She is the lead in automating many of Arup’s Melissa Chigubu her apprenticeship’s first female Stem design processes and chairing workshops for ApprEnTiCE, MAnufACTuring ambassador and gave a speech to the Made engineers on digital design. Her performance TECHnOLOgY CEnTrE (MTC) in Dagenham machinists. has also caught the eye of the Construction Current apprentice Industry Training Board, which has recently Angela george put her forward for a regional award. Chigubu learned her first engineering skills MECHAniCAL dEsign EnginEEr, thanks to her uncles in Zimbabwe, and on diAMOnd LigHT sOurCE LTd Lois Medley moving to the UK in 2012 she joined the MTC’s Former apprentice ELECTriCAL ApprEnTiCE, Wsp apprenticeship scheme. She has since been Current apprentice named apprentice of the month three times, As an engineer at Diamond Light’s synchrotron and was the first woman to complete the facility, George specialises in “insertion woman engineer of the year in 2003 and, Catherine Llewellyn-Jones Colleagues says she has been “instrumental” A member of WSP’s electrical team since foundation course. devices” – 20-tonne precision-engineered after a 26-year-long career, has now taken a undErgrAduATE AErOspACE in the company’s development for aircraft While women make the age of 16, Medley has key responsibilities machines that generate x-ray beams accurate senior role on the Typhoon team. Her recent EnginEEring ApprEnTiCE, AirBus parts. Her innovative approach singles her on its HS2 project for software that calculates Heather Clarke to less than one-millionth of a metre. As an appointment to chair of the Inspiring Women Current apprentice out to senior staff as an emerging leader in up approximately cable sizes, detects calculation errors and TrusTEE, insTiTuTiOn Of MECHAniCAL apprentice at Harwell in the 1980s, she was Network came as no surprise. her field. manages models of the electrics. Last year, EnginEErs (iMECHE) Former apprentice the only woman on her team; her dedication Llewellyn-Jones was working as a graduate 12% of engineers she was interviewed about her work on and experience has made her a role model. Charlotte Jones teacher when she made the switch into raisa Matadar BBC Breakfast, and has also taken part in a Clarke’s career was shaped by not one but TECHniCiAn, AECOM Current apprentice engineering; she now specialises in aircraft TECHniCAL suppOrT ApprEnTiCE, in the uK, just over roundtable with Damian Hinds, the education two apprenticeships – one technical, and one natalie goodman ribs, and her work has been implemented JAguAr LAnd rOvEr minister, on policy around apprenticeships. voluntary. At British Railways, building the pErMiT TO WOrK COOrdinATOr, spiriT Now in her fifth year at AECOM, Jones is one in Spain and the US. A case study for TUC Current apprentice 7% of engineering Medway rail bridge and Heathrow Express line EnErgY Former apprentice of the scheme’s top-performing apprentices, and Unite and a champion for women sarah Mulvanny gave her hands-on experience, and in 2006 was its apprentice of the year in 2018, and making career changes, she has successfully The primary contact for JLR’s new Women apprentices are BiM TECHniCiAn, Arup she become a chartered engineer. In 2007, she Goodman finished her four-year mechanical also featured in AECOM’s Where Women campaigned to change university hours for in the Know events for budding female Current apprentice joined the IMechE as a president’s apprentice, apprenticeship early, was made operations Work campaign. She achieved distinctions in students with caring responsibilities. engineers, Matadar has excelled in her female and 10 years later was elected as a trustee. manager of an oil refinery at 23 and is Spirit’s her BTec, NVQ and HNC and is now studying performance at the company. Colleagues Since joining Arup’s building information first female employee to become an authorised part-time for a degree in civil engineering. sylvia Lu noted her acumen and exemplary modelling team, Mulvanny has gained Lisa-Jayne Cook issuing authority for permits to work. She 5g TECH LEAd, u-BLOx uK Former apprentice behaviour reviews as well as her diligence; experience on international projects including sEniOr sALEs And AppLiCATiOns volunteers as a community project supervisor sharon Lane she received distinctions in almost all stadiums, airports, homes and hotels. She EnginEEr, AquA TEMpErATurE with schools in Cumbria. MAnAging dirECTOr, TEEs After completing an apprenticeship at Toshiba, her technical certificates for her level 2 recently completed a secondment to develop COnTrOL sOLuTiOns Former apprentice COMpOnEnTs Former apprentice Lu quickly rose to prominence as an expert in assessments. Laurie-ann Sutherland Smith is her skills in digital visualisations, and having Bethany Holroyd the internet of things. She currently serves a reliability engineer at Musk completed an EngTech is now studying for a As an apprentice, Cook was one of the star prOJECT COOrdinATOr, Wsp Lane began an apprenticeship after dropping on the advisory board for the UK5G network. Kirsty Mcdermott Process Services degree in building services engineering. pupils on her BTec, and was named a finalist Former apprentice out of university, and went on to gain a BEng The first female board director at Cambridge dEsign AssurAnCE EnginEEr, in RAC’s student of the year awards in 2004. with first-class honours. After a distance- Wireless, Lu was named a finalist in the nATiOnAL grid Former apprentice Her passion for learning persisted: in her Holroyd has worked as a project manager learning MBA, she became GM, then MD, of science and technology category of the Asian nomination, colleagues at Aqua praised Cook’s in both the public and private sectors – Top left: Jennifer Smith, principal Tees Components in 2005. Passionate about women of achievement awards last year. The first-ever female apprentice recruited commitment to training junior engineers. perhaps her biggest project to date being the engineer, MBDA. Above: Jenny training, she has become a key role model in to the bus builders in her hometown development of an asset management system Manning, additive manufacturing the north-east for women in engineering. Judith Mair of Blackburn, McDermott learned early dr Katherine Critchley for harbours on the Moray coast. In 2012, MAnufACTuring LABOrATOrY on in her career how she would have engineering lead at BAE Systems COnfigurATiOn MAnAgEMEnT BpM, she was the first apprentice in the country to Catherine Leahy TECHnOLOgisT, rOLLs-rOYCE pLC to prove herself. She undertook a two- sAfrAn sEATs Former apprentice complete the ICE framework. ApprEnTiCE COrrOsiOn TECHniCiAn, Former apprentice year apprenticeship at the National Grid, TWi Current apprentice then was appointed technical lead on a As an apprentice in the 1980s, Critchley Kelly Jeffery Having moved to Derby from rural £6m world-first project for robotics for gained valuable experience in computer-aided CiviL EnginEEr, JACOBs EnginEEring One of TWI’s Arkwright scholars, Leahy Aberdeenshire to undertake her inspecting pipelines. Now an engineer on design. But after graduating from a master’s in Former apprentice already contributes to collaborative funded apprenticeship, Mair excelled on placements the longest tunnel pipeline in Europe, she is the subject, she found it so hard to break back projects into new renewable solutions, and and graduated first-class, as well as being also working towards IEng accreditation, as into engineering that she ended up working in Ten years of experience in the UK and last year was interviewed by ITV about her named best of British engineering and well as setting up a network for women in a chocolate shop. Critchley then completed a overseas gave Jeffery a passion for work. The only woman on her course and apprentice of the year at the Semta awards engineering on the National Grid. PhD and developed a career in the aerospace showcasing rewarding work in engineering. team, she has a passion for research. last year. sector, but her experience made her a vocal During her apprenticeship at WSP she Eden Mcglen advocate for other “returners” in Stem. completed a degree in civil engineering at This year’s Top Chloe le grand Jenny Manning ApprEnTiCE EnginEEring Exeter; now at Jacobs, she sits on the steering sEniOr dEsign EnginEEr, MBdA uK AddiTivE MAnufACTuring MAinTEnAnCE TECHniCiAn, uniprEs Alexandra Ellis-Jones committee for its global women’s network. 50 Women in Former apprentice EnginEEring LEAd, BAE sYsTEMs Current apprentice JuniOr EnginEEr, gsK Former apprentice Former apprentice grace Johnstone Engineering Having passing her HNC and HND in McGlen’s strong academic background made Ellis-Jones has made significant cost savings prinCipAL EnginEEr, BAE sYsTEMs mechanical engineering with distinction in all Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is a her an obvious candidate for university, but through digital innovation at work. She’s also Former apprentice highlights 22 areas, le Grand now shares her enthusiasm relatively new technology for BAE’s Typhoon instead she applied for an apprenticeship made great efforts to promote apprenticeships for engineering widely: as well as arranging and Hawk jets, something Manning – named with Unipres. One of just two women on her among senior business leaders at a Science Aged 16, working on Tornado and Hawk current and 28 apprentice placements in her team, she has national apprentice champion of the year course, McGlen was invited to discuss the Museum “late” – an adults-only, after-hours jets, Johnstone was the first woman on the for the past few years led a Robot Wars-style and the Royal Academy of Engineering’s role of women in engineering at the House of theme night – and in a film for the IET. 100-person team. She was named IET young former apprentices Rumble event for local secondary schools. rising star in 2012 – noticed early on. Lords this year.

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Top 50 Women in engineering

Lesley Nutter tammy whelan SeNior eNgiNeer, eNgiNeeriNg aSSiStaNt techNiciaN, arup appreNticeShipS, Bae SyStemS Current apprentice Former apprentice Whelan joined Arup’s infrastructure team After graduating from the women-only TESS in Belfast after a career in the armed forces scheme in 1992 and working as an engineer and graduated from a BTec last year. She for 17 years, Nutter joined BAE’s early careers was named learner of the year by her team just before it introduced the new college and Northern Ireland’s apprentice aerospace engineering degree apprenticeship of the year. As well as representing women scheme in 2015. Under her guidance, now a in apprenticeships, she is also a green fifth of its apprentices are women. champion, and has founded a steering group to improve sustainability in her workplace. emma roberts appLicatioNS eNgiNeer, FairFieLd Jade white coNtroL SyStemS Former apprentice weLdiNg eNgiNeer, SeLLaFieLd Former apprentice At just 25, Roberts has already achieved a first-class degree and assisted Fairfield on A specialist consultant in fabrication, some of its biggest projects. Most notably, welding and materials technology, White’s she helped refurbish the control system for expertise was highlighted last year after she the world’s first rotating boat lift, designing was nominated for WES’s Karen Burt award and assisting in the building of new control for newly chartered engineers. During her panels. She has also represented former 10-year career at Sellafield, she has spoken apprentices at the House of Commons. widely on equality in engineering.

Billie Sequeira perdi williams techNicaL appreNtice, Bae SyStemS aSSiStaNt reSearch ScieNtiSt, Current apprentice NatioNaL phySicaL LaBoratory Former apprentice When Sequeira joined BAE she’d already been placed in the top 10% nationwide for Williams is one of the key engineers behind maths, and since joining, colleagues say she’s the creation of the new Kibble (Watt) balance, outperformed in her role as an apprentice on the instrument that redefined the kilogram BAE teams. She was named apprentice of the last year. Now 20, Williams started her year by her training provider and is a keen apprenticeship just four years ago and has Stem ambassador. already spoken at New Scientist Live.

Jennifer Smith, ambar yasin priNcipaL eNgiNeer, mBda appreNtice, Jaguar LaNd rover Former apprentice Current apprentice

The first female apprentice in the engineering A rising star, Yasin has already been invited department of MBDA’s Stevenage site, Smith to present to the board of directors: not long was IMechE young mechanical engineer of after starting her placement, she managed the year in 2017; she was praised for setting to reduce time on one process by more than up an in-house training opportunity for 80%. The youngest member and only woman engineers in the same year. on her team in the metrology department, she has a keen eye for improving efficiency. Sophie Smith BuiLdiNg Surveyor, atkiNS daniela Zanni Former apprentice StructuraL techNiciaN appreNtice, arup Current apprentice With 10 years’ experience under her belt, and volunteers as a charity champion, Former apprentice Sophie Smith Smith’s mid-career sector switch gave her and after she graduates she hopes to stay is a building surveyor at Atkins At Arup, Zanni already has responsibility for expertise in both social housing and building on to improve production processes for the the building information model of Manchester control. As well as studying for a degree part- Mini body shell. Metropolitan University’s new arts and time (and graduating with first-class honours), humanities building, and she is involved in she has also fought back against barriers Laurie-ann Sutherland Smith training and running workshops for graduate such as ill-fitting “unisex” personal protective reLiaBiLity eNgiNeer, muSk proceSS engineers. Now studying for a BTec, she equipment by developing her own range. ServiceS Former apprentice completed her NVQ in less than 18 months, and was shortlisted for this year’s TARGETjobs Sarah Speir Sutherland Smith has a flair for making apprentice of the year. proJect eNgiNeer, Sp eNergy significant improvement to processes in short NetworkS Former apprentice timescales at work, and she’s wasted no time applying her skills to improving equality at “Congratulations to the UK top 50 “Congratulations to this year’s When Speir first started at SP on a year Musk. After Wise’s ten steps campaign, she Women in Engineering. You are an WE50. WES is delighted to showcase in industry programme after school, she produced a strategic proposal and action plan inspiration to the next generation engineering apprenticeships as the expected to go to university afterwards. for the company. of women in Stem. At GSK, we gateway to a rewarding career. All Instead, she stayed to earn an HNC on a three- encourage our employees to achieve of the winners have gone above and year apprenticeship. Now in a full-time role as charlotte tingley professional qualifications across beyond expectations and are also an engineer, she commissions power system QuaLity eNgiNeer, Bae SyStemS the organisation, especially in dedicated to supporting women protection and large-scale control systems Former apprentice science and technology.” engineers and apprentices.” apparatus, while studying for a degree. GSK WES As a former WES young woman engineer courteney Stone of the year winner, Tingley has gone from eNgiNeeriNg techNiciaN appreNtice, strength to strength. After completing an PAID FOR BY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Bmw group maNuFacturiNg advanced technical apprenticeship, at 20 she Current apprentice led the production team for the Eurofighter Typhoon helmet. She’s now known as an Self-confessed petrolhead Stone is the industry expert in FRACAS, making her a key only woman on her work’s Mini Challenge asset to her new role on the team for the racing team. She mentors other apprentices inceptor systems of the F-35 jet.

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Does a notable gender part-time or compressed hours.” It’s not impossible, though, she says, pay gap and rigid working and thinks if both women and men models stop female talent were asking for flexible working from reaching the top? hours there might be more of a cultural shift in attitudes. For project engineer Daisy Partlow, the biggest problem is Ellen Manning perception. “People just don’t know what to do with us,” she says. “There are subconscious stereotypes – in ncouraging women to the office, nine times out of 10 if join traditionally male- someone is trying to find someone dominated sectors isn’t they’ll walk past 10 other people and easy. But do women then come and ask me. That kind of face even more hurdles thing puts people off.” when it comes to civil The sector recognises it has a Eengineering and construction? lot of work to do – and has already “From holding your own started. Elizabeth Donnelly, CEO of as the only woman in a room the Women’s Engineering Society full of older men, to defying (WES), says their efforts include stereotypes and practicalities MentorSET, a mentoring programme such as never having personal to support women engineers protective equipment (PPE) that throughout their careers, as well fits, there are many hurdles faced as support for Stem Returners to by women in our industry,” says help them return to engineering Kate Watson, associate director, after a career break. It also founded structural engineering at Patrick International Women in Engineering Parsons. Those hurdles start Day (INWED), an annual global early, says associate structural celebration of women engineers. O2 and Vodafone – are now offering and civil engineer Victoria Martin, The Institute of Coding returnship schemes as part of their with physics and maths often (IoC) has created new flexible Returnship schemes diversity strategies. dominated by boys, and parents qualifications – designed to help Natalie Desty, founder of Stem being less in favour of daughters women reskill – through its digital Returners, says such schemes have studying engineering than sons. degree apprenticeship scheme. Helping women succeed a positive impact on company “I can’t help but notice that a large “All too often, stereotypes around culture. “It allows line managers to proportion of the female engineers courses, a notable gender pay see for themselves that returning I know (myself included) have gap and rigid working models after a career break employees are just as capable after been educated in a single-sex mean that not enough female a break, and also opens minds to environment, free of the daily talent reaches the top, leading to flexible and home-working options, reminders that they are something a worrying lack of diversity,” says Whether it’s maternity leave, confidence, reinvigorate the desire which benefits everybody,” she says. of an anomaly,” says Martin. director Rachid Hourizi. for learning and development and Almost all (98%) of the people For those who do make it Elsewhere, training providers or simply just taking some upskill the individuals taking part.” placed by Stem Returners have gone into engineering, achieving a are teaming up with industry to time off, returnships offer an In 2017, the government pledged on to accept a permanent position professional status carries a lot of encourage women into the sector. easy route for employees to that it would provide £5m to with the company. weight, she adds. “Women who In the East Midlands, Access fund returnships, but diversity They operate in the mid- want to combine a family with a Training and Derby-based building come back to work and inclusion initiatives are also career sector because this is, rewarding career, if they haven’t firm Hodgkinson Builders recently making a difference. Many large Desty says, where there is the achieved professional status prior expanded the Access Training employers – including Amey, Arup, biggest recruitment dip. “These to taking a break then this timeline Construction Academy to boost Georgina Fuller programmes welcome back can be further delayed. It meant a construction apprenticeships. Ian experienced and capable individuals lot to me to get chartered and then Hodgkinson, managing director at ‘I’ve seen women being into the mid-career space with lots promoted to associate before I had Hodgkinson Builders, says: “The here has been a of valuable and transferrable skills my first child, as I would then be Access Training Construction phenomenal increase in promoted to senior they have learned while on their returning with a level of credibility Academy will work to encourage the number of women leadership roles break.” They often have the edge under my belt.” all sorts of people to come in to the choosing careers in over younger employees because A lack of parity when it comes trade – not just men – to get the word engineering in the past after returning from of their experience. to parental pay is another hurdle. out that the building industry is a few years, according to career breaks’ Ellie Zemani, an engineer and “For a lot of families, the pattern of great place to be, and to dispel the TElizabeth Donnelly, chief executive returner at Spirit Energy, says the the woman as the main caregiver old thinking and perceptions that officer at the Women’s Engineering Ellie Zemani best thing a company can do to show is established. This often comes can unfortunately still be around.” Society (WES). Spirit Energy its commitment to women returners at odds with the demands of the When it comes to encouraging “Our figures show the number is provide strong role models. “I have construction industry; operating at women into the sector, Watson says: of women in engineering was 650 two boys and took a year off for each. a high level is hard to balance with “I believe the best thing I can do on in 2016/17, compared with 235 in I came back full-time but worked a personal level is to do my job as 2005/6, an impressive increase of reduced hours for the first couple of well as I can, and be seen to be doing 277%,” she says. months,” she says. ‘I believe it is my so. I believe it is my responsibility Part of this is down to the success Zemani was inspired by other responsibility to call to call out inequalities I see and and popularity of returnships or mid- women in her organisation. “We encourage and support other career schemes. “Returnships are have had a couple of great examples, out inequalities I see women in the workforce. I hope that a fantastic way for women to come where women were promoted

in the future we will see a further back to a career they have previously to senior leadership roles after ee

and encourage other : h

shift for women in our industry, but had success in and possibly even a returning from maternity leave or y women at work’ it’s certainly not a time to sit back – chance for them to make a switch to career breaks. For me, this sends although we’ve come far in recent a different career with the skills they the message that women – as well as Kate Watson years, there is still a lot to be done have already amassed,” Donnelly men– can take a parental leave and

Patrick Parsons and it’s a long game.” says. “These programmes build stay on track.” photograph The Guardian Monday 24 June 2019 Monday 24 June 2019 The Guardian  Women in engineering  ▼ The gender pay gap is more prevalent in construction than ▼ Modern engineers work across in most industries a variety of di erent sectors :  :  Jennifer Opal, 28 Elizabeth Elliot, 29 Experience Junior software engineer at BT Group ‘I was intimidated Civil engineer on the graduate scheme at fi rst, but there’s a at Bombardier I was at university in London, where ‘There were no industry I’m from, studying business and relaxed atmosphere My company makes trains and French, but I dropped out to do and everyone’s rolling stock – for example, we’re mentoring sessions’ this job. Code First: Girls visited doing the Crossrail trains. We make my university and were o ering really supportive’ sure the trains work and that they free eight-week courses to give last. I fell into recruitment when When architect Carol engineers and 16 architects, with people an insight into coding and Priya Nirmal I graduated and was recruiting Stitchman one of just two women. web design. From the rst day, I Digital engineer, 23 engineers for Bombardier, where I Stitchman was growing up, One of the projects she was fell in love with it. Once I typed my work now. But recruitment wasn’t her career options seemed involved in was the redevelopment rst line of code, it was like: “Wow, scratching the itch for me any more limited. Today, things are of Birmingham New Street station, I really want to do this”. I found and I wanted to be in a technical which she spent 15 years of her my passion. Then I was o ered position. Bombardier was looking looking much brighter career. She cites its opening, four this job. I felt like I’d been given an for someone for their graduate years ago, as one of the highlights opportunity to develop my skills scheme and I thought: ‘This is my of her career. and make an impact, and if it meant chance’. One of the highlights has Interview by Mark Smith “With more than 1,000 I had to leave university and leave been doing a site tour with Jeremy contractors, we worked overnight to London then I decided to take that Corbyn. He got to go on one of the open the station to the public, and I chance. I have no regrets about trains and met us because we’re a Growing up in a small mining watched people through bleary eyes leaving London to do this. new generation of engineers. town as one of six children, Carol as they moved through the space, Stitchman, design manager at this new station that had been my Priya Nirmal, 23 Curzon Street station in Birmingham baby for so long.” ‘I fell in love with Associate digital engineer at Capco ‘A career highlight – the rst intercity station to be built In 2016, Birmingham New in Britain since the 19th century – Street station won more than 20 coding as soon as I I’m a developer, so I work on has been doing a site spent every Christmas asking for a industry awards. Her own personal typed my fi rst line of websites and apps. I went into tour with Jeremy pony, but was told by her mum that achievement was being awarded engineering for the creativity – if she wanted one, she was going to the best woman architect award code. I’ve defi nitely you’re constantly making and Corbyn, where he met have to “get herself a good job”. in the Women in Construction Diary of a new starter found my passion’ designing things, which is my the new engineers’ Stitchman has certainly achieved and Engineering (WICE) awards, passion. I’ve always liked to be just that. But back in the 1970s, the and being chosen from more Jennifer Opal artistic and can show that through Elizabeth Elliot options for women in her career path than 300 nalists as the most Software engineer, 28 engineering. I was intimidated when Civil engineer, 29 were very limited. distinguished winner. ‘I’ve never felt like an I rst started, I didn’t really know “In those days, girls left school She then joined engineering rm what to expect, but there’s a relaxed gender pay gap in civil engineering to be hairdressers, secretaries and WSP, which went on to win the bid atmosphere and people have been seem clear. But what steps should nurses. There were no industry to design Curzon Street, and so really supportive and welcoming. Civil engineering the industry take to change that? mentoring sessions, no visiting Stitchman found herself back where outcast as a woman There’s a lot of things I can explore For Gyimah, the sector needs to speakers. I lived in a then-thriving she started. here. I’ve learned so much in ve address “bias in the workplace coal-mining area and most of the “It felt like I was coming home months and it doesn’t feel like my and confrontational behaviours, people I knew, including my family, to manage the design of my second education has ended yet – I’m still ‘The key is to focus o ering more equal gender hiring worked in the mine.” multimillion-pound rail project learning every day. Learning is part on apprenticeships and graduate Having set her sights on a career in Birmingham. in engineering’ of the job, which means you’re schemes right through to better in architecture, after discovering a More importantly, though, did she never bored. maternity packages, introducing gift for technical drawing at school ever get that horse? on long term, shared parental leave and embedding and a love for Lego, she became the “I bought my rst horse 20 Seven female engineers Lucy Allen, 23 ‘We’ve even worked Kulsum Ahmed, 27  exible working arrangements”. rst of her siblings to go to college years ago and now have ve horses ‘I used to be quite shy Graduate infrastructure engineer Safety and risk consultant at Writing in a blog post, Rachel and made it through university, and ve dogs. I’m also currently working in their fi rst job before, but I feel like with the Golden Environmental Resources Management Bell, chairman of the south-west despite running out of money. renovating an old farmhouse – so share their experiences We build roads, drainage, and water Globe awards  we sustainable change’ branch of the Association of Women “My nal-year tutor advised that life has been good.” I’ve found confi dence supply. The projects I’m working on My job is to look for ways to prevent in Property, says: “At a time when I should think about working as a in myself through are in the UK and overseas, in places made a special potential oil and gas hazards. It’s  exible work environments and technician and not an architect. He such as the Middle East. The scale trophy for them’ nice to use my engineering degree From stereotypes and bias to It’s something associate structural breakout spaces at universities are clearly didn’t know me that well,” ‘In the olden days, Abby Young-Powell this role ’ varies from one building to building in a way that protects people and and civil engineer Victoria Martin common, young people expect the she says. whole new cities, where there’s no Olivia Ojuroye the environment. Every day is a lack of fl exibility, the reasons has experienced. While engineering same  exibility at work, too.” Carol went to work for Boots as a girls left school to be Zeinab Mohammed infrastructure, so we’re designing Electronic engineer, 25 completely di erent and I get the behind the gender pay gap consultancy is, for the most part, Change will take time, says project architect, while studying in hairdressers  and Think of an engineer and what Assistant services engineer, 21 how to get water in, how to get rid opportunity to work with a large in civil engineering seem meritocratic, there are still too Gyimah. “The key is to focus on long- the evenings, eventually realising comes to mind? Perhaps a man of waste, and all the road networks. variety of clients. The rst time I few women occupying technical term sustainable change. The gender her dream of becoming an architect most people I know who is working outside and It’s really exciting, but also quite went to a client workshop, though, transparent. But how can we and design roles that o er scope pay gap has not appeared overnight, after seven years of study. In 2000, worked in mines’ wearing a hard hat and overalls? overwhelming at times. My job has I was so nervous I spilt a cup of tea overcome prejudice? for progression, she says. “This so it will take time to see sustainable she moved into the rail industry to But engineering is a lot more than been really sociable, because 10 of us all over my manager’s laptop. I had skew towards the typically lower change. Recent Equality and Human work for Railtrack (now Network Carol Stitchman that. Modern engineers work across started together in the past year – so to turn it upside down and sit with paid administration roles is then Rights Commission research shows Rail). It had more than 30,000 WSP a variety of sectors – from light we never feel alone. The company it that way for the rest of the day, Ellen Manning undoubtedly re ected in the gender that six in 10 women now use gender and audio, to renewable energy, to organises social events for graduate but it was ne in the end. I’ve been pay gap gures.” A 2017 report pay gap data as a deciding factor building whole new cities. They also engineers, such as softball matches very lucky. I’ve never felt like an from the Association of Women in when it comes to job seeking. So if work around the country in di erent against the architects, which really outcast as a woman in engineering. he gender pay gap Property presented research carried civil engineering rms are serious cities, as well as rural areas, working helps us bond and get to know each I’ve always felt like I’ve been given is everywhere, but out with pay gap analysis provider about addressing pay gaps, then in everything from computer coding other better. equal opportunities. nowhere more so than in Gapsquare and executive research ensuring that they have robust action to chemical engineering; some Zeinab Mohammed, 21 Olivia Ojuroye, 25 construction. According consultants, Rosemont Partnership, plans in place is important.” even have jobs in fashion, creating Assistant services engineer at Pick Everard Electronic engineer and product ‘As a woman, I’ve to analysis by XpertHR, which surveyed representatives Sue Ferns, senior deputy general wearable technology. ‘My job has been manager at Digiseq construction rms’ data from all sections of the construction secretary at trade union Prospect, The profession is still male- I design things such as lighting – I really sociable, always felt like I’ve Trevealed a pay gap of 24% – compared market. The research revealed that says there are initiatives aimed dominated, however; according like being able to use my creativity because 10 of us We work with fashion brands to been given equal with a national average of 8.6% . 30% of women left their jobs after at narrowing the gender pay gap, to the Women in Engineering and put my mark on it. I’m the create wearable technology – such as Alison Fitch, HR manager at two years or less, and only 12% of but they are not making enough Society (WES), just 12% of the youngest in the team and there’s started together  we watches, bracelets or rings – and we opportunities in Invennt, a management consultancy women were in a managerial role. di erence quickly enough. “There’s UK’s engineers are women. But de nitely a bit of an age gap because insert chips so you can use them to that deals exclusively with From stereotypes and bias to a lack still quite a lot of confusion about the number of women entering I’m 21 and the second-youngest is never feel alone’ make contactless payment devices. engineering’ construction, says there are a number of  exibility, the reasons behind the what a gender pay gap is compared the profession has grown in recent 33. They never make me feel like Lucy Allen It’s a really interesting sector of Kulsum Ahmed of factors limiting the industry’s with what equal pay means. We need years and many young women are I’m asking a silly question, though. Infrastructure designer, 23 engineering, where fashion and Risk consultant, 27 ability to attract and retain female to educate people.” In Ferns’ view, thriving in the industry. There’s a lot of banter that goes on in wearable technology combines. We talent, including gender imbalance ‘A change in culture e ective dialogue is best achieved We spoke to a range of young the team. They joke around with me also worked with the Golden Globe and a lack of  exible working through union representation. “It’s female engineers working in their when they make a reference to old awards. I don’t think many people arrangements that make it di cult is required that di cult for individuals to pursue this rst jobs to nd out how they’re lms that I haven’t seen. But I joke know this, but the 2019 trophies for women to stay in work while is visible through on their own. We all know about the getting on. Some said they enjoyed around with them, too, because they have a chip inside. We put that caring for children. Michelle Gyimah, leaky pipeline. It requires a change being able to express their creativity don’t always understand the lingo of there so in the future you can know gender pay gap consultant at Equality practical changes in culture that is visible through through engineering, while others the younger generation. It’s a two- it’s a real trophy and not a fake. Pays, agrees, saying civil engineering in the workplace’ practical changes in the workplace. felt they thrive on being part of way thing and we laugh a lot. I was Technology is being embraced and faces a double challenge: to attract There is no easy solution, but there projects that have a positive impact a shy person before I started at Pick that’s great for engineering, because

women, and to retain them and Sue Ferns is a strong case for focusing on the   : on the world. Here’s what each of Everard, but I’ve found con dence it encourages people to enter, and enable their progress. Prospect issues that concern women most.” ▲ Carol Stitchman, design manager at Curzon Street station them had to say: in myself through this role. that means more diversity. The Guardian Monday 24 June 2019 Monday 24 June 2019 The Guardian 18 Women in engineering 19 ▼ Informing children about the science and maths careers available is vital in attracting interest photograph: GETTY And this is bad news for “It’s why people end up thinking maths teachers,” she says. “That education and development at the engineering. “Half of all A-level they’re not good at maths, which can be tough because we’ve always University of Cambridge. She was Future engineers physics students go on to study Maths anxiety means we get fewer people studying had a shortage of great maths recently part of a research team from engineering,” says Morgan. “But only it after GCSE.” teachers in the country, as there are the university that worked with 20% of A-level physics students are One issue that needs to be tackled so many other careers available to the Nuffield Foundation to better girls. We need to address this early on ‘People are scared of is how maths is taught. Hoyles people who are qualified to teach understand maths anxiety. ‘Teachers can be in schools.” Some universities have says that experts need to think maths. We need teachers to be The study included a quantitative dropped the physics requirement for beyond algebra and equations and empathetic and to see other points overview of maths standards and their engineering degrees in order understand how they can help of view, to understand where pupils anxiety, as well as qualitative to widen entry to more women, but looking foolish’ young people realise that maths can are finding aspects of the subject work with individual primary and the ones who can this risks marginalising physics as a be used to solve problems and widen difficult so they can be encouraged secondary school pupils who kept subject in schools, says Morgan. their career choices. to overcome those hurdles.” diaries of their experiences studying Since 2010, the number of girls Two in three students who failing to obtain a grade 4 (grade C in “We need teachers to be great This is a crucial point for Ros the subject. taking Stem A-levels has risen the old grading system) or higher in communicators as well as fantastic McLellan, lecturer in teacher “We found that two in three of the 26%, and in the latest intake the feel maths anxiety actually maths GCSE exams. pupils who were living with maths change things’ government recruited 5,900 science do well in the subject. Does The trust believes these statistics anxiety were actually doing well in and maths trainees – up 500 from a lack of awareness of their reveal what academics have known the subject,” McLellan says. the previous year. Entries to GCSE for many years. A poll for the trust, “This makes it tricky because it can abilities limit pupils’ career Education professionals are “Teachers can be the ones who computer science are rising faster conducted last year by Ipsos Mori, mean that parents and teachers aren’t can change things – they’re a key than for any other subject. prospects in Stem industries? found more than a third of 15- to 24- aware of a child’s anxiety. However, key to solving the engineering part of solving the engineering skills But the salaries science and maths year-olds feel anxious when shown a it does mean that students are more skills shortage, says Yvonne shortage and encouraging more teachers earn fall below those of the maths problem. The same applies to likely to drop the subject and not take Baker, chief executive at girls,” says Baker, who now heads science in Southampton, Hampshire. But there aren’t enough teachers private sector – maths teachers in Sean Hargrave one in five British adults. it up at A-level or beyond.” Stem Learning, which provides She joined via Teach First in 2016, a like Staton. Just half of maths and their late 20s earn about £4,000 less Despite this high prevalence, the The other major take-out for Stem Learning education and careers support. charity that focuses on recruiting for physics teachers stay on in state than their graduate peers. same research showed that 80% of McLellan was more encouraging: Worried about a lack of maths and shortage subjects. “For me, it’s about schools beyond five years – that’s Engineering companies have a role early everyone will adults have never heard of the term maths anxiety can come and go. physics teachers, the government teaching what science actually is,” worse than the overall retention to play, too, says Baker. And a scheme know they have maths anxiety. “People can feel maths anxiety Helena Pozniak is focusing on finding more and says Staton. “Kids don’t understand rate of 60%, a 2018 report from the to bring in teachers to summer work felt anxious about This comes as little surprise and then overcome it,” she says. hanging on to them, with a new the amazing careers available.” Education Policy Institute shows. placements has been successful. a maths question at to Celia Hoyles, professor of “McLellan’s advice is to instil in recruitment and retention strategy Today, there are more pupils – now “It helps when you can say: ‘I met a some time in their mathematics education at University children that if they don’t understand f a teacher hadn’t encouraged launched this year. This supports nearly 17 per teacher, up from 15.5 person who did this,’” says Morgan. lives. What may not College London (UCL). She helps with a maths problem, that doesn’t mean her, Yvonne Baker might never teachers and offers flexible working. ‘My teacher inspired in 2010. By 2025, a population bulge Teachers are also more likely to stay Nseem so obvious is that many other the trust’s work because she feels it is they’re bad at the subject. have gone into engineering: With phased bonuses of up to means there’ll be 15% more pupils in if their skills are boosted by training – people have felt the same way and vital people recognise maths anxiety Teachers must also help pupils “She inspired me at a time £10,000, the government hopes to me to get into secondary schools than in 2018. and Stem Learning’s subject-specific that maths anxiety is a real problem. is real and needs to be addressed if overcome difficulties and never when it was unheard for girls encourage maths teachers to stay engineering at a time Not even half of maths and physics development makes it 160% more So much so that the Maths more young people are to study for allow them to feel like they are no to consider it.” on after training – in total, £406m is when it was unheard teachers hold a relevant degree. “If likely that science teachers will Anxiety Trust has been set up to raise qualifications that lead to careers in good at the subject. It’s that feeling IBaker’s glad she made that choice being invested specifically on maths, it’s not your specialist subject, you’re remain in their profession. awareness of the issue. It points out Stem industries. of failure that can lead to maths – as a chartered chemical engineer, digital and technical education. of for girls’ less able to inspire pupils,” says Dr “Industry says we need more the problem could be contributing to “With maths, there’s a right or a anxiety and young people dropping she now leads efforts to persuade “I wouldn’t leave now if you paid Rhys Morgan, director of engineering engineers,” says Morgan. “But I a quarter of 11-year-olds being below wrong answer and that’s why people the subject and, in so doing, limiting people to choose science, technology, me,” says science teacher, Helen Yvonne Baker and education at the Royal Academy believe we need to divert some of the standard expected of their age can feel so anxious – they’re scared their future career prospects in the engineering and maths (Stem). Staton, who teaches biology and Stem Learning of Engineering. them into teaching.” group and nearly a third of students of looking foolish,” she says. ▲ Parents and teachers can be unaware of a child’s anxiety photograph: STOCKSY Stem industries. Monday 24 June 2019 The Guardian Women in engineering 21 ▼ Apprenticeships give students the opportunity to get a degree and industry experience at the same time photograph: getty Software Engineers (Graduate level to Experienced) Experience From £23,673 to £40,352 (based on role) plus discretionary market supplements, long-term incentive schemes and corporate bonuses) ‘Maths creates so many Climate change, severe weather warnings, fl ood and pollen forecasts, air quality, travel considered.  ere will be a requirement for staff to attend training and induction initially opportunities’ and fl ight forecasts… Do you want a career in an organisation which touches and in Exeter. Some Scientifi c Software Engineering jobs may require travel out with benefi ts the lives of millions of people in the UK and wider afi eld? Exeter as part of their development plan. by the wayside. Simply digitising We have a range of permanent and temporary posts working on current operational Benefi ts include a generous leave allowance (35.5 days per annum with the ability Short of maths teachers, how maths is taught with appealing to buy up to 40.5 days for full-time staff ).  ere are numerous clubs and activities systems and their next generation replacements. Our modelling applications run on education director Georgie graphics and games isn’t enough, world-class systems, including a £97 million supercomputer and they generate more and a gym on-site. If you relocate to the South West you are within a short distance Hart discusses whether says Hart – learning technology of vibrant cities, small towns and villages, interesting cultural and historical sites, than 200 terabytes of scientifi c data per day. schools could benefit from needs to be designed with deep numerous beaches and walks. understanding of how pupils learn Successful candidates may be required to work in several diff erent groups, including digitising the subject and a healthy reality check around Maybe you are an Research Software Engineer looking for new opportunities teams of software engineers, or be embedded within science teams and will have the how teachers want to use it. opportunity to rotate across these teams.  ere are exciting opportunities to work but continue working in science? Have you had a few years away from software Beware of bandying terms such as with scientists to develop future numerical weather prediction models. Work can span development or engineering but are keen to return? Whether you have been caring, Interview by Helena Pozniak artificial intelligence (AI), she says. the whole software development lifecycle from design through to support of systems. travelling the world or been in the forces, if you’re looking to return to a fulfi lling career “AI can be a very disempowering in software engineering, the Met Offi ce is fully committed to supporting you. We term for teachers, it’s not helpful. Full-time, part-time and job share applications are invited.  e Met Offi ce is an will provide a programme of training, mentoring and resources to help update your r Georgie Hart But the concept of adaptive teaching equal opportunities employer and fl exible and UK home working applications will be technical skills and become a fully-contributing engineer. was a reluctant allows teachers to do more of the job mathematician – they love.” And data doesn’t always English was her give the full picture, she says. “If a Candidates who apply may be considered for other similar technology and software engineering posts available in the Met Offi ce during the next 12 months. favourite subject at pupil scores highly at, say, ratios, We are a Disability Confi dent employer, Mindful Employer, with an Athena Swan Bronze award for our work on gender equality and an LGBTI network. school, but she took a but still feels very unsure, a teacher For more information about us and the opportunities we off er, including industrial placements, please visit our website: https://www.metoffi ce.gov.uk/about-us/careers Dmaths degree because she was good needs to know that. Or if a child is For more information on our vacancies and to apply please visit: https://www.metoffi ce.gov.uk/about-us/careers/vacancies at it. But not until maths research overconfident on a subject, but scores led her to work for the World Health badly, a teacher must address that We will be off ering opportunities to drop in and meet us this year and discuss your career with us. Please keep an eye on our website and social media. Organization did she begin to truly too. You need human intervention; it enjoy herself. can’t just be a case of ‘the computer “I was analysing which says no’. It has to be a blend of a interventions against tuberculosis human being and technology.” were most effective. That was the Through thousands of individually moment I fell in love with maths. I’d made video tutorials, Sparx helps discovered the little-known area of explain concepts and provides an operational research – which is about hour of bespoke maths homework using statistics and maths to make for each student every week. “So better decisions – with a massive if a child is really strong, he or she emphasis on human interaction with can explore, while others can use technology. I saw how maths could the video to address gaps in their solve real-world problems.” knowledge,” says Hart. After a PhD in operational She’d like to see more links research, she’s been working with between industry and schools to Engineers and Scientists, and adviser education experts and coders for the inspire pupils and bring the maths to the Institute of Innovation and past eight years to perfect education curriculum to life. As a young Apprenticeships Knowledge Exchange. technology, which helps secondary mathematician, careers advisers “Girls tend to choose fewer school children learn maths. pushed her towards accountancy options around Stem, but this She’s spent enough time in – but, on graduation, she happily leaky pipeline starts earlier, with classrooms to know the value of good discovered her options were far ‘We’re missing out primary school children who are fed teaching. “You’ll never replace the broader. “Maths genuinely creates messages about their role in society,” richness of teachers interacting with so many opportunities.” she says. pupils. But even the best teacher in And if teachers could “We need to inspire teachers, the world can’t know what every communicate the relevance of on the talents of 50% parents and employers to pupil gets stuck on at any moment.” trigonometry, algebra, and other understand these issues and She’s now education director at mathematical concepts in everyday understand why it is important technology company Sparx, where life, then pupils could be more to them. If your recruits and specialists have spent eight years inspired earlier on, she says. “How of the population’ apprentices are mainly men, then developing education technology, does an architect use maths, for you’re missing out on the innovation which tailors maths tasks to instance? Having someone say why talents of 50% of the population.” individuals’ differing abilities – in that fractions class could be useful in Hajra Bibi counts herself as line with a wider shift in education the future would be so worthwhile.” Could improving awareness there has been an improvement of 1% “one of the lucky ones” who heard towards personalising lessons to among women in the past four years. about degree apprenticeships stretch every pupil at whatever of Stem degree-level “There is still a lot of work to at school. She will finish a five- stage they are. ‘You need human apprenticeships increase do and so we are working with the year degree course in applied “We knew technology could make intervention – it has uptake among young women? Department for Education to help bioscience this summer through a a difference but we didn’t know encourage more women on to these degree apprenticeship scheme at exactly how,” says Hart. “Over time, to be a blend of a apprenticeships,” she says. “The fact pharmaceuticals company GSK. She we’ve been brave and thrown out they can earn as they learn and gain believes the role has given her more what doesn’t work, and have drawn human being and Sean Hargrave work experience is an important than university could have, and on cognitive science and learning technology’ consideration for young women who without the debt. research, and have eventually built want to progress in their careers.” “I thought about university, but I something that teachers love using.” Georgie Hart pprenticeships as Much of the blame may lay with chose to get my degree while earning UK schools have been chronically Sparx a whole have an society and schools, according to so I wouldn’t start my working life short of highly qualified maths even split between Sarah Peers, deputy president at the with huge debt,” she says. teachers, and disadvantaged pupils men and women, International Network of Women “The great part of apprenticeships haven’t performed as well as the but only 9% of Stem is that not only do you get a national average – some 58% of apprenticeships are degree, but you’ve got five years students eligible for free school meals Ataken up by women. It is a worrying ‘Not only do you of experience in the industry. The have failed to achieve maths GCSE statistic that the government says it get a degree but sandwich year students we have grade A*-C (now 9-4). is trying to correct by making more here always comment on how But technology in the classroom young women aware of the wealth you’ve got five years they’d have loved to graduate with often gets teachers and parents hot of opportunities opened up by a so much experience and no debt. under the collar, prompting dire degree-level Stem apprenticeship. of experience in Many people haven’t heard about predictions of “robot teachers” Lucy Rigler, deputy director at the industry’ apprenticeships or, if they have, replacing real people – and many the Institute for Apprenticeships don’t realise how they’ve now education technology products have and Technical Education, points out Hajra Bibi evolved to be comparable to going been launched with great fanfare that, although the uptake seems low, GSK apprentice to university.” in the past few years only to fall The Guardian Monday 24 June 2019 Monday 24 June 2019 The Guardian 22 Women in engineering 23

▼ Louise and Gemma Taylor (l-r) inspire each other photograph: amit lennon growing up, and we always had a Experience computer in the house. In the early days of computers, we’d get the computer out at weekends and it ‘We talk about programming would be a special occasion. Dad would build the computers – he during Christmas dinner ’ didn’t just buy them off the shelf. When I was a teenager, the internet came along and me Two pairs of parent and computers and we’d use it together. and my elder sister would play We’d do anything from setting it games together. We were always daughter duos explain up to artistic stuff, such as drawing comfortable using computers, they their personal relationships pictures together. were just normal to us. with engineering and what With time, that interaction has Mum also taught her daughters increased, not decreased, which is that we could grow up to do inspired them to get into wonderful. She might ask me to look anything. She would do things such the industry at some maths, or to tidy up a bit as edit Enid Blyton stories when she of code. It’s good because it’s kept read them to us to make sure they all me up to date with technology – I’m went on adventures. The girls don’t learning as much as I ever taught her. actually go on adventures in Blyton’s Interviews by Abby Young-Powell I have a wife, three daughters stories – I only realised that when I and a son. My son is also an reread them as a teenager. engineer and Ruth’s elder sister is a We talk about engineering a mathematician. My wife and other lot at home; when we’re having Trevor John, 68 daughter will joke about how they dinner at Christmas, for example, Consultant and retired feel a bit left out at times, but it’s a we can get into quite in-depth systems engineer good family dynamic. conversations about programming I’m proud of Ruth. In particular, or audio. It’s really good to get my grew up in south Wales I’m proud because she’s not been dad’s perspective, but everyone and my grandfather was a afraid to operate in a largely male- else gets annoyed with our geeky miner in the Welsh valleys. dominated profession, and I imagine conversations. In his spare time, he fixed that must be hard. Engineering is I love making things digitally. You radios and clocks, and that changing [in terms of becoming can do whatever you want once you fascinated me as a child. I more gender-equal] and that’s good. learn to code. wasI keen to get into his shed and see I think my grandad would have been what he was doing. That developed proud of Ruth, too. my interest in finding out about ‘It’s great to get my things, making them work, and Ruth John, 37 fixing them. Self-employed digital engineer and dad’s perspective That followed through to my computer programmer – but everyone gets daughter, Ruth. She always had an interest in understanding things. We Because dad worked with tech there annoyed with our had a computer in the early days of was always tech around when I was geeky conversations’

▼ Trevor and Ruth John bond over their mutual love for engineering Ruth John photograph: EMLI BENDIXEN Digital engineer

one of only about two women in the Gemma Taylor, 25 office, though. Sometimes I’d sit Experience Building physics and services engineer and draw pictures. Other times I’d at Services Design Solution (SDS) make cups of tea for everyone. One ‘Engineering gives us of her male colleagues even gave me I work on the stuff that’s hidden a teddy bear once and I’ve still got it a common link’ within buildings. So that means if to this day. nobody’s complaining they’re too When I was a bit older, we went present to me. I had only just had hot or too cold, I’ve done a good out on building sites. We’d put Louise Taylor, 50 Gemma [my daughter], so initially I job. Growing up, my mum was on hard hats and boots and walk Commissioning officer at Dorset thought it was the wrong time, but I a role model to me and I felt like around. I noticed mum wasn’t afraid County council made myself do it anyway. there were no bounds to what I to say if something was wrong and I found the course interesting and could achieve. that it needed to be redone, and that s a child, it never stimulating. What I love about my Since the age of about five, I people respected her because it was occurred to me to go job now is you can improve people’s would go in to work with her. It her job. into engineering. Then I working and living environments. never crossed my mind that she was At first, I wanted to be an got a part-time job in For example, it’s your job to make architect, but I think I was just a design office [where sure there’s enough light and air fighting against the trend and mum engineers worked]. inside a building. ‘We’re always probably always knew I’d end up AI was working really hard for other Gemma originally wanted to interacting – my mum being an engineer. She doesn’t people and I wanted to do what they become an architect, but I think that realise how much she’s helped me. were doing. So I used to go into my was just to annoy me – architects are helps me with my We’re always interacting and we talk boss’s office every week and ask more form and we’re more function, on the phone most days. She helps him to send me to college, so I could so there’s always a balance to strike work and we bounce me with my work and we bounce become an engineer, too. between the two. Engineering gives ideas off each other’ ideas off each other. She’s my mum Finally, after five years of nagging, us a common link, so we’re not just so we work in a similar way. She my boss said he would send me to mother and daughter and can have Gemma Taylor talks herself down, but I just want college. That was his retirement interesting work discussions. Service engineer to make her proud. Women in Engineering At GSK, we invest in the next generation of scientists, engineers and leaders, no matter what their gender. Together we’re building an environment where everyone can thrive to fulfi l their potential. Emily Engineering Apprentice #WE50 #TransformTheFuture Ulverston