Case Study: Occupational Segregation - Serco Science National Physical Laboratory

Serco runs the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) on behalf of the Government. Like most UK physics organisations, it is a challenge to recruit female graduates. Only 20% of UK physics undergraduates are women. Four years ago NPL began a set of initiatives to establish it as a role model for improving the capability of, attracting and retaining female staff.

Key among these was the rebranding of the organisation’s advertising campaign, actively targeting universities with a diverse range of students and providing female role models to escort tours around NPL at interviews.

NPL is also part of the DTI’s Science Ambassador’s Scheme and runs outreach activities with local schools and colleges and provides speakers at universities. With the Institute of Physics, the organisation also works closely with physics teachers at schools in the London area to help them bring physics to life by providing them with first-hand experience of working physicists.

27% of the science workforce and 50% of the Science Ambassadors are women.

The changes to the recruitment advertising led to a 700% increase in the response rate. In 2005 30% of science graduate recruits were women and in 2006 this increased to 44%.

40% of science promotions in 2005 were women and in 2006 this increased to 50%.

Outreach activities continue with 50% of the Science Ambassadors female.