The IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) has today highlighted the severe shortage of women in engineering and has appealed for more inspirational role models to come forward through the launch of the 2007 IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award.
The most prestigious award of its kind within the engineering profession, the award not only celebrates the most talented young female engineers in the UK, but also demonstrates that engineering is a challenging, exciting and rewarding career for women.
Robin McGill, chief executive and secretary of the IET said: “Women have the skills needed to be successful engineers and with the current skills shortages within the engineering profession, and with the urgency of issues such as climate change and energy supply, their skills and input into these areas are needed more than ever before. However, the IET are concerned that out of 243,000 registered engineers only 7,608 of those are women, a mere three per cent. The IET would like to address this imbalance through the IET Young Woman engineer of the Year Award and highlight the inspirational women who are really making a difference through engineering.”
The IET have found that there is a demand in the UK for more inspirational role models among both men and women. The results of a recent survey commissioned by the IET* to look at the career aspirations of young people found that there is a call for greater opportunities for women to achieve their goals in more traditional ‘male’ career paths. Two-thirds of those surveyed stated they would like more women to have skilled trades, such as plumbing or being an electrician, or going into professions such as engineering (47 per cent), medicine (42 per cent), architecture or surveying (both 39 per cent).
Michelle Richmond, Director of Qualifications at the IET, added: “Our report demonstrates women have a real mix of career aspirations, with more wanting to be represented in areas such as engineering and skilled trades, and our role is to encourage this.
“That’s why we’re celebrating the work of female engineers in particular, highlighting a career that can provide excellent opportunities for young women and help them realise the ambitions and aspirations that our research shows they clearly hold.”
Judges of the award are looking for someone under the age of 30 who is already holding a responsible position as a leading professional engineer and has the flair, charisma and experience which enable her to present engineering as an exciting career and entice others to follow in her footsteps.
The IET are urging companies to nominate their young female engineers for the award online or for engineers themselves to come forward and embrace the career advancement and networking opportunities that winning such a coveted award provides. The winner of the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award will also receive £1,000 and a trophy at an award ceremony in London.
The runner-up will receive the WES prize of £500 (WES – Women’s Engineering Society). In addition to this, The Mary George Memorial Prize will be presented to a candidate who shows great promise and potential in the profession and is tipped to be one of tomorrow’s leaders in engineering.
The award is open to a young woman working in any discipline of engineering or technology.
The closing date for all entries will be 27th July 2007. For further information or to nominate a candidate or to apply online please visit www.youngwomanengineer.org.