Women into Manufacturing and Engineering (WiME), a Green Port Hull initiative supported by the Regional Growth Fund, aims to encourage women to choose a career in these industries. WiME has teamed up with Women’s Engineering Society (WES) to create two videos promoting the work of the organisation helping inspire women to choose a career in manufacturing or engineering through the story of former WES president, Hull aviator Amy Johnson.
WES is a charity and a professional network of women engineers, scientists and technologists offering inspiration, support and professional development. Working in partnership they encourage women to participate and achieve as engineers, scientists and leaders.
The videos based around a Q&A session with Dr Catherine Dobson, Senior Lecturer at the University of Hull’s School of Engineering and Computer Science and Dr Sarah Peers, WES Vice President are available on Green Port Hull’s YouTube channel.
Tim Rix, Chair of the Green Port Growth Programme Board, commented:
“Renewable energy projects in the region such as the Siemens blade production facility at Green Port Hull have put a spotlight on manufacturing and engineering as a career. However, the message we’re trying to push is roles in these sectors are not just for men. Women are needed in the workforce and these videos give insight into the importance of a gender-balanced workforce.”
Dr Catherine Dobson, Senior Lecturer at the University of Hull’s School of Engineering and Computer Science, said:
“It is fantastic an organisation such as WES is in support of WiME. The videos highlight the projects, schemes and campaigns run by WES such as its Magnificent Women initiative which uses legendary female engineers as inspiration. Together we can help support women to become engineers and technical leaders.”
Dr Sarah Peers, Vice President of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), said:
“Attracting and retaining women in manufacturing and engineering is a perennial issue so local initiatives like WiME are important for communicating the wide-ranging roles and benefits of a career in these industries and to bring employers together to address the need for diversity in engineering.
“WES’ role includes supporting engineering women to achieve their potential through networking and linking opportunities, and working in partnership to assist employers and others in creating a diverse engineering community. We are delighted to have been involved in these videos particularly in telling the story of our former president Amy Johnson, a true Hull heroine, and look forward to further collaboration.”
Councillor Helena Spencer, Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Equalities and Diversity at Hull City Council, said:
“The WiME initiative is hugely important and it is vital manufacturing and engineering sectors actively support it by looking at how they encourage and support more women to work for their organisations.
“In addition, for women, particularly young women who are making decisions about their future careers, the WiME initiative will hopefully give them the inspiration, encouragement and confidence. We hope they will look at this industry as a serious career path as they discover more about the women who have been pioneers in the manufacturing sector.”
Video 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz0_TJ7Bm3Y&feature=youtu.be
Video 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56c6oye-4vM&feature=youtu.be
