Without lifeboat stations, lifeboats and vital kit, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) couldn’t save lives at sea. That’s why for this year’s International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), the RNLI wants to inspire the next generation of women to consider careers in engineering.
To engage and motivate young women and girls, and to show the commitment to gender equality across the charity, the RNLI is hosting online activities for 11 to 13-year-olds aiming to inspire them about the incredible world of engineering and encourage them to consider studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at GSCE level.
Last year, the RNLI’s INWED activities went online for the first time due to Covid-19 restrictions. Now, the charity has created a range of online resources and introduced interactive elements to ensure as many young women as possible have access. This includes action-packed activities inspired by INWED’s 2021 theme Engineering Heroes. Schools, students and young people local to Poole, Dorset – where the RNLI headquarters is based – have been invited to take part online.
To inspire students with the impact they can make through a STEM career, they can:
- Meet a female RNLI engineering hero
- Discover career opportunities in engineering technology
- Be inspired by the difference they can make to global sustainability
- Get a behind-the-scenes look at the All-weather Lifeboat Centre where lifeboats are manufactured, as well as try their hand at virtually building the lifeboats themselves
- Find practical careers advice and guidance to support their decision making
Samantha Mosley, who works in the RNLI’s Engineering and Supply team, said: ‘Coming from a non-engineering background into the engineering department was daunting. If I can be a part of an event that gives young girls the awareness and confidence to believe they can create a career in engineering, I’ll be over the moon.’
Head of In-Service Support Andrew Tate said: ‘Engineering is at the very heart of what we do at the RNLI, which is why it’s crucial we work with schools and colleges to inspire the next generation of female engineers to consider careers in engineering.
‘Currently only 12% of the RNLI’s engineering staff are female. I want this to change so that my successor can recruit as many women as men into engineering across the RNLI, support the next generation of female engineers, and continue the RNLI’s vital lifesaving work.’
To access all the information and activities on how the RNLI is celebrating INWED today, take a look at the Women in Engineering webpage on the RNLI website.
The RNLI is also excited to be working with the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) to help inspire women and girls in the UK, Ireland and internationally. Through connections with the IMRF and #WomenInSAR initiative, the RNLI will support the IMRF at search and rescue conferences across the world and talk about women in engineering. The RNLI has also been featured as a case study to inspire the IMRF’s members across the globe with the charity’s work to improve gender equality in the sector.
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