The time is right to smash gender barriers

This was highlighted in a survey conducted by Cambridge University which found that only one in five UK respondents encouraged their child to pursue a manufacturing career. This clearly demonstrates that we need to educate parents, the key influencers in their child's career choices, about the reality and value of manufacturing careers. Modern manufacturing is a dynamic, exciting sector – advanced robotics, technological innovations and 'intelligent' systems are commonplace – and career paths are varied, with many opportunities to climb the proverbial ladder. These are not just factory floor jobs. Manufacturers need skilled employees from multiple disciplines – HR, IT, legal, marketing, operations, health and safety, quality, product design, etc. Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, director of Women in Engineering at Sheffield University, makes the point that manufacturing and engineering lose many talented women within STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) to the 'caring' professions – teaching and nursing. This reflects the cultural messages embedded in our highly gendered society with girls and women feeling these are the only professions where they can 'make a difference'. In fact, manufacturing and engineering also make a difference by creating new life-improving products; a small example is materials engineers working with medical professionals on new glass composites to bond human bone. The lack of empowering careers advice means young girls often dismiss careers perceived as male dominated and stick to the social stereotypes and cultural expectations society has created. We need to introduce young people at primary level to viable and exciting manufacturing careers, giving them confidence to make career and study choices based on their personal skills and interests. Women in Manufacturing (www.womeninmanufacturing.co.uk) supports the ScienceGrrl (www.sciencegrrl.co.uk) recommendation to encourage those with influence over our society to break down gender barriers and re-introduce inclusive careers advice. Manufacturers need to showcase female role models in industry, mentor links with schools and provide work-based projects. Campaigns must be driven by industry to encourage diversity, access untapped female talent to combat skills shortages and develop the talent pipeline to secure the future of the sector.