Ministers hope for boost in female engineering
The MINI Plant in Oxford played host to two visiting ministers as the Government articulated its plans to push for female students to consider their future in engineering.
Matthew Hancock, the skills and enterprise minister, visited the plant to meet 30 young women who are taking part in the Government drive. In addition, Esther McVey, the employment minister, was also on hand to participate in the Girls Go Technical programme.
The drive saw BMW’s plants in Hams Hall, Swindon and Oxford, all open their doors to secondary students who wanted to know more about the industry, while also giving them the opportunity to learn first-hand from females within the business.
Mr Hancock, who was shown around the Oxford training school by second-year apprentice Philippa Napier, was impressed with what he saw.
“It was great to meet so many engaged young people keen to find out what a career in the automotive sector would look like,” he said.
“‘See Inside Manufacturing’ gives young people the opportunity to see exactly how manufacturing works on a day to day basis, dispelling old myths about factories and inspiring the next generation of engineers.”
Ms Napier also commented on her delight at the opportunities now being presented to females.
“Girls are often put off from pursuing a career in this industry because there’s a perception that all engineers are like mechanics,” she said. “Engineering is not all about oily overalls and dirty fingernails; there are so many varied opportunities in manufacturing and I hope that more young women will be tempted to give it a go.”