Birkenhead shipyard and marine engineering services company, Cammell Laird, has given young women a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life in engineering as part of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) 2019.
Ten girls from Birkenhead and surrounding areas met female engineers and saw shipbuilding in action during the event organised by the shipyard and engineering college. The visitors also has an opportunity to tour polar research vessel, the Sir David Attenborough, and hear how the build is progressing from Carrie Harris, second engineer with the British Antarctic Survey, who will be one of eight women in the ship’s 28 crew once it launches.
Cammell Laird chief operating officer, Tony Graham, and managing director, Paul Owen explained why the day was so important. “Just increasing our workforce numbers isn’t good enough for me,” said Mr Graham. “We need increasing levels of diversity and the right kind of talent in the business, people with passion and loyalty, who are confident and willing to learn, who are going to go on our growth journey with us,” he added.
The day began with a visit to the neighbouring engineering college, where Cammell Laird apprentices train, before moving to Cammell Laird where the girls heard from assistant ship manager, Claire Biggar, and former mechanical fitting apprentice, Kirsten Blood, who is now a quality inspector in the tooling department.
The International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) event aims to encourage more women into engineering careers and is backed by businesses and organisations across the industry.
By Rebecca Strong
