Siemens set the bar for female engineer recruitment with 50:50 gender vow
23 Nov 2021
Siemens has fast tracked more than three quarters of the female undergraduate attending its recent event to recruit women into the profession and vowed to achieve gender parity for its newcomer intake in four years.
Of the 42 students who attended the Women in Engineering day at Siemens’ UK headquarters in Manchester to meet inspirational women engineers at various stages of their careers, 33 have been earmarked for early careers opportunities at Siemens’ Digital Industries, Smart Infrastructure and Mobility divisions.
These include three-month summer placements, intern development and graduate development programmes. Other participants have been offered opportunities with Siemens’ Healthineers, Gamesa, and Energy divisions.
Women still comprise just under one in four of the STEM workforce in the UK and just one in eight engineers but Siemens said it is now targeting gender parity in its early careers recruitment by 2025.
Currently, 43% of those enrolled in graduate programmes and 36% in apprenticeship schemes are female.
This was a real opportunity for Siemens to ramp up recruitment of talent and skillful young women and play a leading role in bridging the gender gap
Victoria Little, senior talent acquisition partner, Siemens
Senior talent acquisition partner for Siemens Victoria Little said: “While we have run similar kinds of events like this over the years, we’ve never attempted it on such a large scale. This was a real opportunity for Siemens to ramp up recruitment of talent and skillful young women and play a leading role in bridging the gender gap. With more than 30 participants now being considered for internship and graduate positions, it has been a resounding success.”’
Participants for the Women in Engineering event on October 21 met with senior engineers Sarah Black-Smith, Head of Factory Operations for Siemens Digital Industries, and Faye Bowser, Head of Energy & Performance Services at Siemens plc, shared their inspirational career journeys.
Among the company’s current workforce, engineers Natalie Gristwood and Kathryn Grimwade, from Siemens DI, and Sophie Beckingham, Marvellous Nikwocha, Yanely Jimenez, Allegria Bwitonzi, and Kelly Lo from Siemens Mobility, shared their insights into the profession.
Bowser, head of the energy & performance services team for Siemens plc, said: “It was a delight to be able to meet the fresh wave of young female talent looking to explore a career in engineering, and reflect upon my career so far to inspire this next generation.
“I remember being there myself, feeling daunted and excited for what the future would be. I felt inspired and energised by seeing this group of gifted young women who I’m sure will go on to achieve wonderful things.”
Photo: (l to r) Siemens engineers, left to right, Kelly Lo, Titi Oliyide, Allegria Bwitonzi, Yanely Jimenez-Licea and Maya Solanki
