Five young female engineers — working on projects that include the next generation of 3-D printers, laser warning systems for military aircraft, and the cooling system for a futuristic car — have been short-listed for a prestigious award that aims to change the perception that engineering is only a career for men.

They are Jessica Bestwick, Hannah Pearlman, Laurie-Ann Marshall, Naomi Mitchison and Lucy Ackland; the award is the IET’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year award. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in central London on 10 December to be hosted by BBC Breakfast's Steph McGovern (pictured) (www.theiet.org/ywe).

Michelle Richmond — IET membership director and a former YWE winner — said: “The lack of women in engineering is a huge problem for this country, contributing to skills shortages that threaten the economy. It also means that women are missing out on interesting and rewarding careers.

“The difficulty in attracting women into engineering is down to a combination of things — from the careers advice girls are given in schools, to schools not instilling girls with the confidence to opt for science and maths at A-level, through to employers needing to do more to make their approach to recruitment and retention more female-friendly.

“It is also a result of the lack of inspirational engineering role models for girls, which is where our Young Woman Engineer of the Year winners can play a vital role — by encouraging and inspiring more young girls to become engineers.”