Network Rail sets target to increase female employees to 20% by 2020
Posted: 6 March 2017 | | 2 comments
Only one in five women are currently employed as engineers in the UK. To combat this Network Rail has set itself a target to increase its take-up of female employees from 16% to 20% by 2020.
Only one in five women are currently employed as engineers in the UK. To combat this Network Rail has set itself a target to increase its take-up of female employees from 16% to 20% by 2020.
The UK economy needs around 54,000 graduate engineers to sustain its economy, says WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) but there are currently just 12,000 and only 20% of them are women.
Network Rail has realised that the key to righting this shortfall is to inspire future generations about engineering. Therefore the company is using National Apprenticeship Week and International Women’s Day to launch a new engagement programme working directly with schools to inspire young women to study STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths).
The importance of female engineers
“There is still a wide perception that engineering jobs are for ‘boys only’,” said Loraine Martins, Network Rail’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion. “Our own research has shown that girls as young as seven believe that engineering is not an option for them, which is why we need to do everything we can to educate children, parents and teachers about the vast array of jobs within the sector. Attracting and retaining a diverse mix of talent is essential not only for our business, but also for the UK economy as a whole.”
“Attracting and retaining a diverse mix of talent is essential not only for our business, but also for the UK economy as a whole”
Network Rail apprenticeships
Network Rail is also looking to recruit apprentices to help deliver its Railway Upgrade Plan and is calling out for the next generation of engineers. Network Rail’s apprentices are guaranteed a job on successful completion of the three-year course. The retention rate of those coming through the apprenticeship scheme is around 75% – much higher than the national average for engineering (55%).
“One of the most common myths is that engineering is a ‘dirty’ profession”
“Engineering is basically problem-solving,” Network Rail’s Engineering Director, Helen Samuels commented. “Diverse teams are important for this, and having a mixture of skills sets in these problem-solving situations is key. One of the most common myths is that engineering is a ‘dirty’ profession [though] many engineering roles are based either part-time or full-time in an office environment.”
Great to hear that Network Rail are looking to increase the number of female employees, and definitely a step in the right direction which the industry, and similar industries should take note of.
I have worked for Network Rail all my life and have been very keen on staying with them but unfortunately I was made redundant 2012 and have never been given the chance to come back even after applying for positions. Surely it would be more beneficial to reemploy staff that already have the knowledge of the working railway since Railtrack and train them to be Engineers. Just a thought