WOMEN engineers are visiting Wiltshire secondary schools this week to encourage students to consider a career in engineering whatever their gender.

The visits are being arranged to coincide with National Women in Engineering Day – which aims to raise the profile and achievements of women in engineering.

The majority of Wiltshire’s priority sectors, including advanced manufacturing, agriculture/land-based, defence industries, life sciences and low carbon, are facing urgent science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skill shortages.

Manufacturing industries are facing an increasing challenge to maintain a skilled workforce as experienced engineers retire.

In addition to this, almost half the agriculture/land-based workforce is expected to retire by 2020, while the defence, life sciences and low carbon sectors are also competing for STEM graduates with a minimum of 10 per cent more staff needed to be trained within the next 10 years.

The Wiltshire Skills 4 Success Programme (WS4S) is working with Atkins Global, Siemens and QinetiQ and their female engineers to deliver exciting school role model visits.

The programme is funded through the Wiltshire Assembly’s Action 4 Wiltshire Programme led by Wiltshire Council.

The aim of these visits is to inspire a future generation of scientists and engineers in the county, addressing particular skill shortages in STEM sectors and will run alongside STEM education experiences, a careers programme developed in partnership with Wiltshire businesses, an “employability charter” and many more initiatives and resources coordinated by the WS4S Programme.

Helen Kellaway a female engineer from Siemens Rail, Chippenham, visited the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy on Tuesday to talk to a group of 200 students about considering a career in engineering.

Her colleague Yewande Gbadegesin visited Abbeyfield Secondary School in Chippenham on the same day.

Kerry Hall, careers co-ordinator at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy said: "Helen provided a really technically simple, but accurate picture of life as a systems engineer with Siemens. Her passion for her job was apparent.

"She provided the students with information about 'alternative' routes into the engineering industry and the huge number of opportunities available. Excellent!"

One girl student in Year 9 at the academy said: "I didn't think it was going to be interesting but it was, especially because it showed how many opportunities are available in a very small sector."

James Stewart, careers co-ordinator at Abbeyfield School, said: "I have spoken to the students since and they really enjoyed the session with some saying they are really enthused about going forward now with their studies as they have a role model for someone they can aspire to be like when they are older."

Today, a female engineer from Atkins Global, Trowbridge, will visit Devizes Secondary School, and tomorrow another female engineer from Siemens Rail will visit Hardenhuish Secondary School in Chippenham.

Further visits will take place in July at Melksham Oak and St Edmund’s School, in Salisbury. The dates for these visits are still to be confirmed.

Fleur de Rhe Philipe, cabinet member for economic development and skills, said: “This is an excellent initiative and these visits will prove extremely valuable even if only one girl decides to broaden her horizons by looking at a career in engineering or science as a result.”