Females in Factories campaign turns 40

The campaign is just 10 short of its target of signing up 50 female manufacturing managers to go into schools and promote careers in industry. You can sign up by clicking here The Females in Factories campaign is backed by the Women in Manufacturing Group and aims to fight the myth of manufacturing as a male only pursuit, which exacerbates skills shortages and damages global competitiveness. Our 40 volunteers are set to deliver their first school talks in September. The visits will be targeted at year 7 and 8 pupils at secondary schools and promote the diverse and rewarding careers on offer inside the factory gates. WM group editor, Max Gosney, urged readers to help fill the final ten volunteer spaces. "We've had a tremendous response from our readers and the wider industry on this pivotal issue for UK manufacturing. A sector blighted by skills shortages can't afford to allow a situation where half the available talent pool are turning their backs on the sector at GSCE age. Please help us by volunteering to deliver a careers talk at your local school." Females in Factories has drawn backing from the Department for Business, Lloyds Bank, Semta and Maggie Philbin, president of the Institution of Engineering Designers. The campaign follows damning industry statistics showing women make up just 5% of managers and 22% of employees in advanced manufacturing firms. Are you a female manager who's passionate about a career in manufacturing or do you know a colleague who is? Sign up as a campaign ambassador by clicking here