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News Release from: Schofield Hughes Group | Subject: Women in engineering
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 04 October 2001
Women in engineering - Jobs for the
Boys?
Although there have been attempts to increase the amount of women into the engineering sector, such as equal opportunities initiatives, little impact has been made...
Traditionally, the engineering industry has been regarded as a male orientated environment Although there have been attempts to increase the amount of women into the engineering sector, such as equal opportunities initiatives, Modern Apprenticeships, after school clubs and the WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) bus, little impact has been made
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 17 Mar 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Nottingham based Opportunity Managers, Schofield Hughes Group has worked within the engineering, automotive and manufacturing sectors over the past 12 years, and placed many women into increasingly senior positions.
One of which is Kate Jervis, 29, from Derby, who is currently working at Alstom Transport as a Senior Mechanical Project Engineer.
Kate was able to give us an insight into what it is like to be in the minority in such a male dominated arena.
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"Generally there are no more women in engineering now, than there were five years ago," said Jervis.
"There needs to be more encouragement at school level, when you have to make choices.
There is still a definite divide," continued Jervis, who studied mechanical engineering and product design at Derby University.
Jervis did offer advice on women wanting to get into engineering, "The only stupid question is the one not asked, don't be afraid to voice your opinion - don't be pushed into believing you are wrong." Jervis believes there shouldn't necessarily be more women in engineering, but people with the ability whatever their sex.
Peter Schofield, CEO of Schofield Hughes Group agrees: "It is no good to an employer if we just find a candidate, we aim to provide the right candidate whose skills and aspirations match the opportunity within a company." "Whether they are male or female is irrelevant - it's about ability and the desire to do the job well.
However, emotional intelligence is becoming more widely recognised as an important factor in building working relationships; women tend to be more in touch with their emotional competencies than men, so maybe this will become a factor in the future?" he continued.
Having asked Jervis what her working environment is like now, she replied, "I thoroughly enjoy my job; the responsibility and the challenge it offers me is very satisfying, I have always liked finding practical workable solutions and this environment suits me well.
"Occasionally I have been treated differently, but after gaining more experience, I have become more accepted." According to womenmotorist.com, more women are taking leadership roles in the automotive industry, another heavily male dominated sector.
For example, there's Helen Petrauskas, Vice President of Environment and Safety Engineering at Ford and Bobbie Guant, President and CEO of Ford Motor Canada; to think that a woman would have obtained such a position 25 years ago was unthinkable.
Overall more women are rising through the ranks of the automotive industry.
At General Motors, for instance, in 1999 there were six women out of 60 officers; that is an increase from four women officers out of 67 in 1996.
In conclusion, it is fair to say that even though there is a small increase in the number of women in engineering and automotive industries, we are still a long way from these sectors being regarded as a realistic career option for more women.
"More female representation at higher levels is what is required to demonstrate to other women that it is possible to achieve and progress in these sectors," suggested Schofield, "we are working towards it, but it is going to take time and empathy." Schofield Hughes Group has been providing compelling reasons to join companies since 1989.
During this time it has spent every single working day learning how and why people join and leave companies.
As a result, it has successfully delivered its opportunity management services to over 400 companies within the automotive, engineering and manufacturing industries throughout the UK and Europe.
Schofield Hughes Group services include: * Retained Opportunities - this service provides the active sourcing of bespoke candidates for bespoke opportunities across all the market sectors within which they operate.
* Designated Opportunities - this contract fulfilment service meets the needs of both candidates and employers who desire project-by-project employment.
* RecruitPeople Automotive - www.recruitpeople.com - this is a niche on-line service specifically for the automotive industry, reaching a global job seeker audience.
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