Section head
Case Study: Occupational Segregation - BAE Systems
BAE Systems operates in the technologically advanced aerospace and defence sectors. Like many employers in the science and engineering sectors, it is concerned that, with fewer young people studying core science subjects, it could face skills shortages.
In 2004 the company conducted a review to see how it could help address the issue and consulted key stakeholders such as the Department for Education and Skills, school volunteers and link schools. The review demonstrated that the company had to make engineering more appealing to young women (only 2.8% of chartered engineers are female) and that it had to influence young people, and in particular girls, about careers before they made GCSE subject choices at 14.
BAE Systems launched a new education programme in 2005 with three components:
- An innovative drama-based schools roadshow, which approached engineering in a novel way, telling a story and having a girl as its lead character
- Providing exciting online resources which feature video stories from young female graduate recruits and apprentices
- Active involvement of our school volunteers as role models in local schools
Over 40,000 young people (of whom roughly half were female) in over 300 schools will have taken part by the end of 2007. The post event questionnaires have seen encouraging responses from girls, with 44% of girls in 2005 and 50% in 2007 saying they would consider a career in engineering. The feedback from teachers has been that the drama had helped change girls’ perceptions There has been excellent feedback from the girls with quotes such as "I learnt that girls can enjoy technology as much as boys" and "I learnt how to engineer and it isn’t as hard as I thought it was".
As a result of the success of the first three years, BAE Systems will be reveloping its education programme and re-launching it in 2007.
Contact:
