The campaign was launched as part of the IET’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards, which celebrate women working in modern engineering – and aim to help change the perception that engineering is predominantly a career for men by banishing outdated engineering stereotypes of hard hats and greasy pipes.
The campaign has had a fantastic response so far from both female and male engineers (and non-engineers) across different disciplines and generations. Supporters who have posted selfies and photos include MPs Lindsay Hoyle, Chuka Umunna, Chi Onwurah and Heidi Alexander, Robot Wars judge Noel Sharkey, television presenter Natasha Kaplinsky and tech reporter Kate Russell.
“Women account for only 9% of the UK’s engineers, which is a huge problem for a sector with a big skills shortage,” said Jo Foster, diversity & inclusion manager at the Institution of Engineering and Technology. “It’s also a problem because it means girls and women are missing out on creative career opportunities that also give them the opportunity to improve the world in which they live.
The final of the YWE Awards 2016 will take place at IET London: Savoy Place on 1 December with the IET #9PercentIsNotEnough continuing to run across the IET’s social media platforms.
