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'I chose this career because
it was something different.
I didn't want to be stuck in an
office five days a week.'
Jessica Van Der Tang |
Jessica's Story
Engineering is a very rewarding and universal career, but few women within the UK choose to go into engineering. However, The Design Village and their new craft apprentice Jessica Van Der Tang are playing their part to change all that.
John Semenowicz Programme Manager for Engineering at the Guernsey College of FE said “Having checked our records, we were surprised to discover that Jessica is the one of only two female student apprentices ever to attend our day release course in engineering ”.
And Jessica’s course tutor Robin Powell said “Jessica is an exemplary student and an excellent role model for other young women to follow, we would like more students like her”
So why should young women choose engineering? Because It offers a varied, intellectually challenging career with opportunities to travel, gain professional qualifications and even run your own company.
Did you know that, With the exception of accountants, there are more engineers on the Boards of UK companies than any other profession? The salary is good, international respect has never been higher and there are opportunities to make a real difference to the way we live.
Yet still very few women choose engineering as a career. Look at the UK statistics. Women account for only:
- 4% of engineering apprenticeships
- 11% of engineering students in FE colleges
- 18% of engineering undergraduates
- 4% of operators/assemblers
- 6% of professional engineers
- 3% of chartered engineers.
But we need to change some of the preconceptions about engineering Engineering is not dirty, boring and badly paid.
Except for on-site visits, engineers like Jessica at The Design Village work in offices using state-of-the-art equipment. They are inventors, designers and problem solvers. They are part of an international network of highly-skilled professionals. They are well paid and well respected. Wouldn’t any young woman want to be part of such a team? And employers like Design Village recognize the fact that women make very good engineers.
Any young school leavers expecting to achieve good results in their maths and science or technology GCSE examinations might be interested in following our new 2yr Full Time National Diploma in manufacturing Engineering. (an alternative route to university) Contact course Co-ordinator Robin Powell on robinp@gcfe.net
A new vocational route to University? Listen to BBC Radio Guernsey broadcast - click the iPod to play
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