Women make up just 9% of the UK’s engineering and technology workforce, and the Gloucestershire-based engineering company Renishaw (www.renishaw.com) is working hard to address this statistic.

Stroud High School recently signed up all of its year-seven girls (over 150 students) to one of Renishaw’s STEM workshops, after one of them — Rosalind Wilkes — was inspired by a girl’s rugby and engineering camp held by Renishaw and Gloucester Rugby in October 2017.

Rosalind said: “After watching the science demonstrations at the Rugby camp, I knew that the other girls at my school would be interested in visiting Renishaw.

"At the camp, we completed practical projects and we were able to take them home to show our parents and friends.

"Before my first visit to Renishaw, I was not aware of the precision needed to complete engineering projects, or what engineering involved. Now I know it is a fun career opportunity for both girls and boys.”

During their time at Renishaw, the girls worked on a mini hands-on engineering project making RGB LED torches, which they took home as a memento of their visit.

They also completed ‘People Like Me’ activities compiled by Women in Science & Engineering (WISE), encouraging girls aged 11 to 14 to consider careers based on their personality.

Rebecca Bound, Renishaw education out-reach officer, said: “The workshops that we offer are a great way to get young girls excited about engineering.

“Typically, young females do not realise that this is a field where you can really make a difference to people’s lives.

“We want to show young people that careers in engineering are accessible for everyone, regardless of gender.”