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Contractors’ Co
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The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) is supporting the campaign to attract more
women into engineering professions by launching an award to mark the centenary of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES). BESA believes engineering professions in gen eral – and building engineering in particular – will not be able to meet future business goals without a far more gender diverse workforce. According to the Office for National Statistics, just 12% of British engineers are women and BESA is backing a WES initiative to raise that figure to 30% by 2030.
Figures from the Royal Academy of Engineerin g also show that 20,000 additional graduate and higher-level apprentices will be needed every year between now and 2024 to meet predicted demand. “Creating more career
opportunities for women in engineering is not just the right thing to do – it is better for our businesses,” said BESA chief executive David Frise. “There is plenty of evidence to show that
the most successful compan are those with the most diverse workforces – and how successful can we possibly be if we are, effectively, ignoring 50% of the population.”
sful compan panies he most diverse Nominations for the BESA
Outstanding Woman in Building Engin eer Services award are invited via the Association’s website (www.
theBESA.com/conference) and the winner will be honoured at the BESA National Conference and Awards event at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London on November 21st. The award, which will be
presented by WES chief executive officer Elizabeth Donnelly, will recognise a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to engineering in the built
environment and is a fitting role model for women in the building engineering workforce.
“There has never been a better time for parents to encourage their girls to embark on a career in engineering,” said Ms Donnelly. “The career potential has never been greater because, alongside a very real skills shortage, there
is growing understanding of the positive way women are contributing to this male- domin
that role models would play a gap on other industry sectors an engineering closed the diversity She add
om ated sector.” dd
de her industry s
try sectors an losed the diversity
lay a models would play a
crucial role in encouraging women – particularly young women – to enter male dominated fields like building engineering services. “With women reaching the very top in politics; emergency services; healthcare and business – why not engineering?” she said.
men The new award will build on
the success of women like Joanna Robinson, managing director of Mansfield Pollard. As well as running a large, international business, Joanna is chair of BESA’s Ventilation Group.
BESA is to promote women in engineering, and am committed to empowering the next gen of female eng the pot
“A large part of my work with o promote women in ng, and am com ng the ne
in committed to
engineers – highlighting eration
e next gen potential career opportunities
in manufacturing and engineering,” she said.
ded that it was high time ng close
d
BESA’s Future Leaders group is also nurturing emergin g talent by giving young engineers – drawn from member companies –
opportunities to grow and develop through mentoring and training. The group’s chair is Reanna Taylor – a senior project engineer at the contractor NG Bailey.
“I have been fascinated by
interior design or architecture. I would only be able to work in – as a youn buil
uilldin ould only be a erior design or archi
be able to work in rchitecture.
However, as I grew older I reI realised there were apprenticeships in building services. I knew this was the way I wanted to go becaus want to build and service ure for our coun
cause I
She said it was also increasingly clear that companies performed better if they were more
future for our country,” said Ms Taylor. She s
f country,” said Ms c clea
representative of the community around them. “A diverse workforce brings new ideas and fresh perspectives that help your company win work and broaden its client base. It is also good for corporate reputation.”
rvice a brighter ”id M
s a young woman – I thoughtoun ld gs from a young age, but
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