There has been much talk in recent years about the need to encourage more women to pursue careers in engineering. And that’s largely because the statistics don’t make for particularly pleasant reading. Surveys taken last year indicate that a mere 11% of the worldwide engineering workforce is female. Here in Europe, the UK holds the lowest percentage of female engineers, with just under 10% accounting for the total engineering workforce in the country.
Supported by the Women’s Engineering Society, The Daily Telegraph launched a Top 50 Women in Engineering poll in 2017, which was created to honour female engineering achievement and challenge preconceptions about the industry. It’s perhaps the most notable of various initiatives that aim to redress the gender imbalance in the sector, and has the backing of leading industry partners.
OTB are fully behind the poll, because we recognise that businesses thrive when they are diverse at both team and board level. Our own diversity and inclusion programme (D&I), which was set up by our first female director to the board Dr Susan Greene, bears out our commitment to empowering talented and aspirational female engineers.
This year’s poll is now open. The winners will be announced in The Daily Telegraph in June- a fitting tribute to International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) which takes place on June 23rd. Nominate an inspiring female engineer today by visiting the link below. We’ll be doing so.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/women-in-engineering/nominate-your-top-female-engineer/#IWD2018
