Equality Minister says women mean business in science, engineering and technology

EQUALITY Minister Lynne Featherstone has called for an increase in the number of women working in the key sectors of science, engineering and technology (SET).

During a speech at the launch of the UKRC’s report, "Women Mean Business: Why Women are Essential to Science, Engineering and Technology", the Minister stated that the low numbers of women in the sector represented a big problem for the prosperity of the British economy, but it is a problem that she is committed to tackling.

Of nearly 13 million women working in the UK, only 5.3 per cent are employed in SET occupations. By contrast, almost one third of the UK’s 15.4 million male employees work in these key areas.

“It is as simple as this: if we don’t promote women in our organisations we are missing out on 50 per cent of the available talent in this country, at a time when demand in science has never been so high. And that has serious repercussions for society and the future strength and prosperity of our economy.

Outdated culture to blame?

“There unfortunately exists a culture in some circles of science which puts off women from pursuing a career in the industry, and makes it extremely hard for those who work in these occupations to progress.

“While there are some excellent examples of good practice, in some companies maternity leave provision and flexible working practices are limited and lag far behind other workplaces. As a result, the majority of female scientists choose their children and alternative careers instead of struggling with the hurdles of long hours and old boys’ networks.”

Research conducted by McKinsey & Company found that in 2008, women held only 9% of board directorships in SET FTSE 100 companies, and exclusively male boards still existed in 35% of SET companies.

Working towards equality

Mrs Featherstone praised in particular the work of the UKRC, the Government’s leading organisation advancing gender equality in SET, which has enjoyed success in working with business, organisations and individual women, including women in SET leadership.

“UKRC is creating important role models for future generations of women,” she said.

“They are sending a message out there that actually science is not a male domain. Women do SET and we are excelling in it!”

Jane Butcher, the UKRC’s Assistant Director said: “Our new report summarises the key reasons why women are essential in SET. Research increasingly shows that gender equality is not just a matter of fairness – it is good for business. For example, a 2009 UK government review on employee engagement showed that in some cases the cost of replacing an employee is equal to their annual salary."

For more information, visit the UKRC website