The annual Women into Manufacturing and Engineering (WiME) event aims to inspire women and girls to pursue a career in the traditionally male-dominated industries of manufacturing and engineering by drawing on the knowledge and first-hand experience of women who are currently employed in a variety of roles across the Humber region to help promote opportunities and inspire the workforce of the future.

Accompanying a group of Year 9 students from Withernsea High School was the school’s Careers Leader, Viki Foster, who said: “It is so important that we address gender stereotypes in job roles in order to help students access careers that they may not have otherwise considered. As the current workforce is made up of so few female engineers, we want our students to know that jobs within this sector are accessible to them.

The WiME Careers Fair provided a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn about the wide variety of careers available and the pathways accessible to them. The company representatives were excellent role models and advocates for their industries and our students had a great time interacting with them and learning more about their roles and responsibilities.

We would like to thank the organisers and employers for giving up their time to offer this opportunity for our students, who engaged well with the event and made the most of the opportunity afforded to them.”

Exclusively open during the daytime to students from schools across Hull and the East Riding, around 435 young people from 23 educational settings visited this year’s event which took place on Wednesday, 4^th October, at the Guildhall, Hull.

Dr. Kirsty Clode, Chair of WiME, highlighted the enthusiasm and curiosity of the girls attending, stating: "The rooms were alive with conversations. It was great to hear the girls asking good questions to the women who work in these industries – all of who were equally keen to share their experiences and discuss the many opportunities that are available.

I spoke to all the students as they arrived, and a large proportion didn’t know any women who have STEM-based careers. However, by the time the students left our event, they had been given the opportunity to meet and interact with over 100 such women, and that has got to be a good thing.

One of the visiting teachers emailed me to say that their pupils were ‘buzzing’ all the way back home. It was fabulous to see the students engage with employers, ask questions and start to map out the different career options they have.”

Primary school pupils, along with students from secondary schools and colleges, joined representatives from over thirty of the region’s top companies, including Siemens, Smith & Nephew, Centrica Storage, Ideal Heating and BAE Systems, to learn about apprenticeships, traineeships and the variety of roles available in their respective sectors.

As the daytime event for schools drew to a close, the fair opened its doors to the wider public. Marketed towards female students in Higher Education and women looking to return to work after a career break, or looking to make a career change, the public event also provided an opportunity for school/college students to attend with their parents and carers.

Dr. Clode added: “Our early evening event was a great success, attracting double the number of visitors that came to our last Hull event. It was great to see a large number of parents and carers in attendance. Career opportunities in our region have grown so much in the last few years that I think many were amazed at what is on their doorstep, and the opportunities that this expansion brings for their children.

Since we started WiME in 2016, the events have gone from strength-to-strength - with this year’s becoming the biggest one to date. I would like to thank all the employers and schools who continue to support us.”

A spokesperson for Ideal Heating said: “It was another fantastic WiME event at the Guildhall. It’s always a pleasure to talk with curious, ambitious women and girls about the opportunities a career in manufacturing and engineering can bring. Ideal Heating are proud to be amongst other passionate employers from the region, all with common aims of building the skills of the future, showcasing role models and providing guidance on potential pathways and qualifications."

While Cllr Linda Tock, portfolio holder for Hull Training at Hull City Council, added: “This is a great opportunity for women and girls in Hull to learn about the employment opportunities in our city. The council is keen to help them on their journey in any way it can and I am delighted that we are able to support this event.”

With great pay, a high number of vacancies and attractive prospects, careers in manufacturing and engineering (including renewables and digital) present a wide variety of interesting and exciting roles, which play an important part in the Humber’s economy.

There is currently a high demand across Hull and East Yorkshire for people with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) qualifications, which are useful in both the manufacturing and engineering industries. However, despite this demand, women still remain under-represented in these areas. This under-representation inspired the launch of WiME as a means to encourage, inspire and help women to discover the many, often hidden, opportunities that are available to them. 

At present, manufacturing contributes 17% of employment in the Humber area, compared with 8.7% for England as a whole. These numbers are set to grow even further thanks to continuing investment in renewable energy and STEM-related projects to address climate change. With these figures in mind, there has never been a better time for women to explore local career opportunities in manufacturing and engineering.

WiME is an initiative by Green Port Hull, supported by North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, East Riding and Hull City Councils, to encourage women to choose a career in manufacturing or engineering. The initiative has grown in strength in recent years, with a network of over 50 local companies helping to engage with over 2,700 women and girls to encourage them to consider STEM subjects and associated career opportunities.

Green Port Hull aims to establish Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire as a world-class centre for renewable energy creating wealth and employment. The Port of Hull’s prime location in relation to the offshore wind opportunities in the North Sea means the region is perfectly placed to capitalise on the UK’s offshore wind industry.

The centrepiece of Green Port Hull is the £500m regeneration and development of Alexandra Dock, by Siemens and Associated British Ports (ABP), to create a world-class offshore wind turbine blade manufacturing, assembly and servicing and export facility.

The facility, which opened in December 2016, has the potential to be the single biggest influence on Hull’s economy for generations. It employs 1,000 people directly on site and has built over 2500 blades in Hull which are powering 6.7m homes.

To meet the needs of the industry Siemens Gamesa has doubled the size of the factory to build the next generation of blades creating 300 new jobs.

ABOVE: Students from Withernsea High School learn more about ABP (Associated British Ports) – one of the many companies represented at the WiME Careers Fair. 

ABOVE: Representatives from over thirty local companies met with school students from across the region throughout the day. 

ABOVE: WHS student Jess Latus embraces the spirit of the careers fair.  

ABOVE: Dr. Kirsty Clode, Chair of WiME, welcomed students to the event with a short presentation in the council chambers.