A Blackburn-based training provider is challenging gender stereotyping in industry and encouraging young women into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers.
Training 2000 has welcomed almost 60 local female high school students for an innovative scheme called “Girls Allowed” which aims to remove barriers to potential.
Designed specifically for female high school pupils, the 1-day programme uses a range of interactive and fun techniques to explore the concept of stereotyping, bust the myths around gender and ethnicity and highlights pupils’ future career options.
Completely free for local schools, students enjoy hands-on taster engineering and automotive sessions at the company’s cutting-edge headquarters.
Natasha Ashworth, 13, from Blackburn Central High School in Blackburn said: “It’s been a fun and enjoyable day. My older sister is doing engineering and electronics at the moment and I can see why she likes it so much.”
Training 2000’s CEO Steve Gray concludes “Training 2000 is one of a number of education bodies which works hard to battle stereotypes that reduce young women’s career choices and we hope to create the female role models of the future.
“However there is still progress to be made, as research by GirlGuiding UK has shown that 62 per cent of 11-21 year-old girls unfortunately believe STEM courses such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics are just for boys.”
For further details visit www.training2000.co.uk
