Stephen Gill FInstR, President, IOR : “‘The Institute of Refrigeration is proud to continue its support and sponsorship of International Women in Engineering Day. It is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in engineering and serves to encourage more young people and women to consider careers in engineering, or to return to it. The IOR is working to raise the profile of women engineers working within the RACHP industry by recognising the positive impact they make, and by actively promoting gender diversity and inclusivity.”

As part of its mission to promote careers in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector the IOR has set up a Women in RACHP networking group. The group provides a platform for young professionals looking for information on how to enter the sector and on ways to further their career. With guest speakers and experts in their fields, the events are an excellent way to gather careers advice and meet others working in RACHP. The network’s next event will be on 14 March and will look at the range of different types of careers that the refrigeration air conditioning and heat pump sector offers. Speakers will discuss their personal career paths while Heads from local schools will explain what they need from industry to help increase interest in engineering as a career choice.

With women only representing 11% of the workforce in the engineering sector, the UK has the lowest percentage of women engineers in Europe, according to the Womens Engineering Society Statistics document updated in January 2018. The also note that this is in spite of the industry is suffering from a chronic staff shortage – in 2017, the annual shortfall of the right engineering skills was estimated at between 25,500 (level 3) and up to 60,000 (over level 4 skills). It has been suggested that to cover this shortage the UK will need to at least double the number of university engineering students, which means that attracting underrepresented groups such as women is essential to maintain the sector’s sustainability. See more at www.wes.org.uk/wesstatistics.

The second IOR’s Women in RACHP networking breakfast will focus on examples of successful women working in a variety of technical and non-technical roles in the industry and creating links with local schools.  See www.ior.org.uk/events 

Additional information about the range of events being held to mark International Women in Engineering Day is available at http://www.inwed.org.uk/