The British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation has signed up to UK government compact agreement, Your Life, today to encourage female participation in technology and engineering.
Education Minister, Elizabeth Truss, said; “Rising numbers of people are taking maths and physics A levels – but it is still very low. Too many teenagers, especially girls, don’t realise that maths and physics get you everywhere.
“They have the highest earnings and can open doors to careers in business, journalism, technology, engineering – in fact anything you can probably think of.
“That is why I’m so pleased to see some of the UK’s top businesses and organisations showing their commitment by signing the Your Life call to action and committing to recruit more science and maths students. Together we can ensure young people have the skills they need to succeed in life and help the UK compete on a global scale.”
Launched at the London’s Science Museum by Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, the government set out its national ambitions for greater participation in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), especially amongst women, to be achieved through a national campaign by government departments, civil society, private companies and educational institutions.
Women in Manufacturing has pledged to take action and support a change in how women and girls are encouraged to consider technology and engineering careers and the subject choices or vocational pathways that lead to them.
Dave Dalton, CEO of British Glass, said: “Our pledge announced today commits to launch a Charter in 2014, backed by some 100 livery companies of the City of London, which will see businesses take on c.100 young female apprenticeships each year across many different professions.
“Through this pledge, we are contributing to the national aspirations to boost the number of women pursuing careers in engineering and technology and through working in partnership with educators, industry and government, to increase the number of young people studying maths and physics at A Level.”
A sub-project of British Glass, the trade association for the UK glass industry, Women in Manufacturing is a not-for-profit initiative driving cultural change in the manufacturing and engineering industries. The aim is to attract, support and retain women into the sector, encourage diversity and increase the UK talent pool by raising the number of women in industry at all levels and across career disciplines.
