Inspiring the next generation of female engineers

To celebrate National Women in Engineering Day on 23 June, our Crawley site is opening its doors to 45 young women from local schools and colleges in Sussex.

“Events like this are really important as they allow young people to get a clearer understanding of the opportunities available to them…

The networking event, supported by STEM Sussex, will give these young women the chance to meet female employees from across Thales UK. It’s an opportunity for students to find out about STEM activities in the West Sussex area and to get an insight into working in a large engineering company at different stages of a career.

The women, aged 17 and 18 years old, will be treated to a tour of the Crawley site, including a walk through the engineering and manufacturing centres. They will learn how they can become an engineering apprentice or graduate at Thales, and what to expect during the application and interview process. They will also hear about non-engineering roles which are available for young women with STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) qualifications.

Eve Maywood, Education & Outreach Manager, Thales UK says: “Events like this are really important as they allow young people to get a clearer understanding of the opportunities available to them within the world of engineering.

“Each year, girls continue to achieve a high standard in STEM GCSE and A level subjects but then choose not to work in engineering. This is often because they are not aware of the career prospects available to them. Events like this give young women an insight into what they can achieve, and hopefully inspire them to think about different career opportunities.”

For more information on National Women in Engineering Day, please visit the Women’s Engineering Society website.