[P]eople from across Cumbria are showing their support ahead of International Women in Engineering Day on 23 June.
The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Raising the Bar’.
Thousands will be proudly holding a ‘selfie card’ to show solidarity for equality, diversity and inclusion within the engineering profession.
The new Women in Nuclear (WiN) Cumbria branch has been running the campaign, and has the support of Sellafield Ltd, local MPs and other businesses across the county.
Chair of WiN Cumbria, Claire Gallery-Strong, said; ““This is such an historic year for gender issues, with the suffrage centenary, the gender pay gap debate and the #MeToo movement in Hollywood, there has never been a more relevant time for people to come together in solidarity for gender balance.
“This is not about one organisation or one individual, change can only happen as a collective effort, and the raising the bar campaign is an ideal opportunity to keep that conversation going in our region, and turn it into positive action.”
“#INWED18 is a great chance to showcase the inspirational role models we have, from female engineering apprentices to senior female engineering leaders. ”
The campaign has been supported by Copeland MP, Trudy Harrison, and Pat Graham from Copeland Borough Council, aswell as employees from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Ltd and other companies throughout the region.
Members of Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) were keen to get on board and arranged a photo opportunity at their most recent member meeting.
BECBC Board Chairman, Ivan Baldwin said; “Inclusion is important to the Business Cluster and our members , on many levels, so we were keen to get involved with this campaign and to help in promoting Women in Engineering to our members too.
“We’ll continue to be an active ambassador for equality and diversity in the region whether that’s through the gender balance of our elected Board or the appointment of a Shadow Board of younger people from our sector.”
Ruth Hutchison is running the campaign on behalf of Sellafield Ltd and WiN Cumbria. She said; “Worldwide campaigns like this are a reminder that we all have a part to play.
“You don’t have to be a female or an engineer to get involved, whether you’re a manager, a mentor, a colleague, a parent or a recruiter, encouraging and attracting more women into engineering will help our industry diversify, fill skills gaps and support the future of our region.”
To get involved you can print off your selfie cards at www.inwed.org.uk/selfiecards and share them using the hashtag #INWED18.
International Women in Engineering Day
International Women in Engineering Day is an international awareness campaign to raise the profile of women in engineering and focuses attention on the career opportunities available to girls in this exciting industry. It celebrates the outstanding achievements of women engineers throughout the world.
Once again in 2018 we are under UNESCO patronage.
Taking place annually on 23 June, it’s your day, so get involved! In 2018 the INWED 2018 theme of ‘Raising The Bar’.
@INWED1919 #INWED18 #RaisingTheBar
