Guest post: "We need to ask why women aren't choosing engineering"

[MumsnetGuestPosts]

I am no stranger to 'male-dominated industries'. After setting up my own manufacturing company, I never got used to feeling like the stranger in the saloon at trade shows filled with men, or to correcting people who asked me where the boss was. And from there I moved into politics – another field where men have historically ruled the roost, although women are increasingly, and crucially, making their presence felt.

Today is National Women in Engineering Day. It is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate women in engineering, and to showcase the many achievements of women in this sector. But with women still so under-represented in engineering, I also see it as an important occasion to think about what we can do, as government, as business and as individuals, to help redress the balance in the sector.

The UK has the lowest proportion of female engineers in Europe - fewer than 10%. We need to ask why young women aren't choosing these fascinating careers and what the barriers are which prevent or discourage them.

This is not just an issue of diversity. According to the Pearson/CBI Education and Skills Survey 2014, 39% of firms looking for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) skills and knowledge already have difficulties recruiting staff, and over half expect to have problems in the next three years. Faced with this shortage, it would be ludicrous from a business perspective too, not to take advantage of the huge amount of talent amongst our women and girls. This is something that I, and the Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, Nicky Morgan, are very passionate about supporting.

The first step is to encourage girls to keep studying STEM subjects at school and university. It's a huge shame that while as many girls as boys achieve the top grades in maths and science at GCSE, far fewer girls progress to A level. Only 19% of those who achieve an A* in GCSE physics, for example, continue to A level, compared with about half of boys. And this pattern continues at university, with women taking up only 14% of engineering places.

This is why the government is supporting the Your Life campaign, which aims to boost the number of young people taking A level physics and maths by 50% within three years, and to double the proportion of undergraduate engineering and technology degrees taken by women by 2030, including by connecting young people to key figures from industry who can help them on their way to careers in STEM. The campaign also asks business to take action to increase female participation in these sectors, for example by pledging to increase diversity on their apprenticeship schemes, or to initiate women's networks within their companies. Over 200 organisations have signed up to date.

Part of the issue is entrenched ideas of 'male' and 'female' careers, which we know have already formed when children are at primary school. Girls need to choose from the broadest range of careers, and not feel they will be funnelled by society's conventions into particular roles. Young women tell us they value their parents' support when making choices about education and careers, but we know that parents do not always feel equipped to help them navigate these crucial decisions. For this reason we recently published a guide for parents, Your Daughter's Future, to provide information on the range of choices girls face in thinking about their future careers, and to support parents to challenge gender expectations.

It's also important that young women have strong role models to attract them into the sector. People like Roma Agrawal, one of the inspiring structural engineers who worked on the Shard and Barb Samardzich, the Chief Operating Officer for Ford of Europe. The government also funds STEMNET's STEM Ambassadors programme, which sends over 30,000 volunteers working in science, engineering and technology into schools across the UK to inspire young people – and it's fantastic that 40% of them are women.

These programmes, as well as the excellent work being done by all the organisations involved in National Women in Engineering Day, will ensure that more girls have the knowledge, skills and confidence to fulfil their potential in the engineering sector. Initiatives like these are crucial to make sure that girls are able to benefit from the many and varied opportunities the engineering sector offers, and that the engineering sector can benefit from the widest possible talent base. The UK needs to recruit 83,000 new engineers every year over the next decade in order to remain competitive – this is talent we can't afford to ignore.

[ElecEng13]

We are setting up a new Electronic Engineering department at Royal Holloway from 2017 entry which we hope will be more attractive to girls because it will focus on the role of creativity (ingenuity) being first for excellent engineering, then the application of science (invention) and then marketable product development. This process will be supported through group project work from the first year (very rarely do engineering work alone in industry) that relates to real-world needs to support the teaching of topics. ABB at A level asked for with only required subject being Maths (A or B). Female/male academic staff ratio from December 2016 will be 3:1.

[DrDreReturns]

I'm a male software engineer. I don't know about other fields of engineering, but I think software has an image problem that may well put women off from considering it as a career. The perception of the industry is that it's geeky and filled with nerds and people on the autistic spectrum. Whilst there are undoubtedly people like that they are in a minority, and the vast majority of programmers I have worked with are 'normal' people. I personally think changing this perception of the industry would be helpful, as I think it is very off putting to some women. To illustrate this, when I told my wife I was being trained as a programmer (I entered software by moving 'sideways' in my company) she said 'you're not going to turn into a nerd are you?';

[Pico2]

Errol - of course those with STEM degrees can go into those graduate entry professions, I have a science degree and did that. It pays much better than most scientific research careers. But it would be a lie to say that career opportunities are significantly better for science or engineering graduates than those with other good degrees. Of course there are restrictions if you don't do a STEM degree in terms of STEM careers, but the rest of the fairly wide world is open to non-STEM graduates.

As ToysRLuv mentioned, the UK is different to many countries where vocational degrees are expected for many careers (business related degrees). People in the UK often follow their academic interests for an undergraduate degree without the expectation of a related job. So persuading girls that science and engineering degrees are the most interesting options is crucial in competing for female students.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Sounds great!

[elephantoverthehill]

Well I might be going against the conversation on the thread but we held our 'Women into Engineering day' today. About 90 year 10 girls from 6 schools and 10 engineering businesses. Mostly women from the businesses but you have to choose your most engaging employees from your staff to represent your business. The girls did a 'speed dating' around each of the companies and then were set a challenge. It was one of my most boring and interesting days as a teacher. I didn't have to do anything except make sure there was tea and coffee and the location of the loos. The girls were asking all the questions, no prompting required, no students messing about needing motivation, and when they started the challenge my only duty was to find extra materials. It was interesting to observe the interaction between the team members. The sisters were doing it for themselves.

[ErrolTheDragon]

But can't people with STEM degrees also go into those graduate entry professions?

[Viviennemary]

A career in engineering would not appeal to me as I have totally no interest in the subject. If I did have then I would have expected encouragement. But I don't think you can conjure up interest in a subject if there isn't any.

[ToysRLuv]

I don't know whether this is unique to the UK, but the idea that you would get a history degree, but go on to work in business is unheard of in my country in Scandinavia. With a hustory degree you'd go into research, museum work, or teaching history. You would only get into business with a business degree. Hence, relatively few people doing such degrees as philosophy, literature or history.

[Pico2]

People with arts, humanities and languages degrees are able to go into any graduate entry profession. I've worked with people with a range of degrees, from PhDs in humanities to a BA in interior design. Most didn't use their degree directly and we went through professional training. The most useful degree seemed to be languages, though the rest of us got by with Google Translate.

[Kefybaby]

Golemmigs, this sign is part of a "set" that also has a "my mummy works here" sign. I don't know why the firm you visited decided to use this one (assuming this is the only sign in use). I would like to think they are not being sexist but just had to chose a sign. Normally similar signs are used to notify motorists of the health and safety risks to the workforce on live motorways (eg during maintenance or road widening works).

[ErrolTheDragon]

But do the girls who opt out of STEM subjects at A level go on to great careers? My perception at uni was that the engineers usually had a fairly clear idea about work, scientists had quite a few choices (and the ones who weren't that good could always go on to accountancy or teaching) and of course the medics were sorted ... But the arts types seemed often not to have much idea about jobs other than teaching.

[queensansastark]

Good point pico2 about and I can see that happening with my dd who is interested in and is (so far) good at STEM and is also an all rounder, so choosing what to go into will be quite difficult.

[queensansastark]

While at STEM subjects A levels and even degree levels the engineering is broad based and flexible, once you are on track into an actual engineering job there are so many tiny silos of specialisms that engineering becomes very inflexible, to the extent that I believe it reflects the pay (asset specificity) and also why employers are always complaining about skills shortages if they are not prepared to be flexible or invest in retraining.

Even in my field, oil and gas / process industry engineering contractor, I can't go from being a principal mechanical engineer to a metallurgist or an electrical designer or even a pressure vessel engineer. But instead of branching across the silos, I can branch up and out into project and lead engineer roles/management. And certainly some of the men, especially older ones, do have problems working for a woman. And the higher up you go, the more the meetings feels like walking into an old boys network sometimes.

I'm not working currently but hope to get back into it early next year, oil price pending.... Will see how that works out even with my degree, MBA and twenty years experience. If I find it hard to get back into the workplace, that would really test the idea of "skills shortages" in engineering.

Regarding pay, I think it very much depends on the particular field and industry you land in...and I don't think there is enough awareness of what actually exists out there. When I left the uk 5years ago, I was working part time, but my full time equivalent was £65k so it is not all low pay, but doesn't compare with my management consultant or accounting uni friends.

[Pico2]

golemmings - I guess they don't mind if their administrators are run over.

[elephantoverthehill]

RaisingSteam
Sorry just catching up on the thread. Don't be shy, I would love to know what you have been a part of building. Just so I maybe able to use it in one of my projects to say actually ..........

[golemmings]

I visited an engineering firm recently. I was quite shocked to find this. It suggests that either they don't employ or don't value female parents. I don't think that's the case - although in the meeting I went to they managed to field 4 male engineers and a female administrator.

[CalmYoBadSelf]

We live in a society that glorifies stupidity (e.g. Jade Goody, Joey Essex, etc) and where maths and science are consistently shown as geeky and uncool. Combine that with limited financial prospects and a job title shared with far lower qualified jobs and it is no wonder that girls aren't going into it.

I have to disagree with the image of engineers portrayed as unfeeling and emotionally inept. DF and DH have both been great husbands and wonderful fathers as well as very proficient engineers

[Pico2]

I think that one of the problems facing STEM subjects in recruiting girls/women is that girls who are good at sciences and maths are often all rounders who have their pick of subjects to continue to further and higher education. In contrast, there are more boys who have specific aptitudes for science and maths at school without strengths in humanities, languages and arts. STEM subjects therefore have to compete more strongly against other subjects to attract capable girls. And the comments about pay and conditions in science and engineering doesn't make them look attractive.

[MoreBeta]

abit - £65/hour for consultancy is dreadfully low.

Management consultants are charging many times that and don't even get me started on lawyers fees. A junior solicitor with virtually no experience is billing out at £200/hr.

[RaisingSteam]

The industry does have image and some cultural problems. The actual work is usually fine! It's not going to change until the people running it do, that's why diversity is needed and some of us are going to have to elbow our way to the top to do it.

[Kefybaby]

I agree with the comments made above by Raising and quite a few others.
I am an engineer and I love my job. On a few occasions I went to schools to take part in career fairs and talk to 13 year old girls about engineering. What normally happens is that the minute they find out I am an engineer they walk rapidly away making a comment along the lines "I don't fancy fixing cars". What saddens me is that most of them have excluded engineering as an option without even knowing what it is. Preconceptions and biases are still so strong.
I come from a country that many people consider as "backwards" and yet 50% of my university year some nearly 20 years ago were women. The difference to the UK? Engineering is very well respected as a job and pays quite well.

[wishingchair]

DD goes to an all girl state school and one of the big advantages in my opinion, is the fact that no subjects are viewed as 'boys' or 'girls' subjects.

I agree with everyone who says that engineering as a career isn't understood or well communicated. That said, very few careers are.

I do a lot of recruitment and more and more we look for highly skilled engineers with great communication skills as well ... people we can have work in diverse teams and with customers. The women we employ often excel at this

[HeadDreamer]

But then I'm also in software with an engineering degree. I've never been a practicing electrical & electronic engineer though. The only useful thing I still do with my degree is changing wall sockets, light switches and electrical plugs lol

[HeadDreamer]

But the biological problem affects women in all professions, not only engineering isn't it? It's something I've come to accept. I never see money as the most important thing. I love my career and I'm willing to be in a lower position and earn less because I want to spend time with my family. The problem is only going to be solved when men and women are more equal in childcare. I'm lucky my DH has a very flexible job. I see my neighbours with husbands who leave at 7am in the morning (when I leave for work too), and then aren't back until 8 or 9 in the evening. The scandanavians supposedly have a much more equal split and much higher participation of women in the workplace.