The UK currently has the lowest proportion of female engineering professionals in Europe at 6%, compared to Latvia, Bulgaria and Cyprus with 30%. A recent survey with parents of children aged 9 to 12 carried out by the IET also found that only 7% of parents would encourage their daughters to become engineers. So, finding and celebrating the success of inspirational female role models is vital.
Current IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year, Naomi Mitchison, said: "I chose engineering because having done Maths and Physics at school it seemed like an interesting way to put those subjects to good use, while doing something a bit unusual and different.
"The great thing about winning the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year award was that it made me realise that the work I do promoting engineering gives me the opportunity to be a role model."
The deadline for entry to the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year awards is 30 June 2015. To find out more about the awards, visit: www.theiet.org/ywe.
