Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, celebrated International Women’s Day 2023 with an inspirational breakfast bringing together a network of female industry leaders from around the UK. This was an ideal opportunity to learn from one another, share experiences and celebrate what success looks like for women working in #ukmfg.
Keynote speaker at the event in Broadway House, Westminster was Jordan Brompton, co-founder and chief marketing officer of myenergi, an award-winning manufacturer and designer of ground-breaking renewable energy products.
She told the audience: “I was told by my teachers in Grimsby that my career choices were basically a hairdresser or a social worker. I tried hairdressing, but luckily was allergic to all the products and still had my drive from when I made money as a schoolgirl to be independent selling scooters at Cleethorpes Sunday market. I dabbled in radio, the education sector before working for a company that made a gadget to heat water by solar power – that was it for me and I fell in love with a passion for change. The rest is down to hard work, graft and a refusal to give up.”
Dr Adrienne Houston, company director Eurovaccum and Royal Academy of Engineering for the role of Diversity and Inclusion told how for every pound men earn, women still earn 80 pence, the difference equating to the cost of a family holiday.
Sheila Kissaine-Marshall, founder and CEO of Boutros bear, spoke of her journey from leaving school with no qualifications to a glittering career as a civil engineer, working on projects including the Jubilee Line and the construction of runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Dublin.
The breakfast also heard from the next generation of engineers and manufacturers, with an inspirational speech from second year metrology apprentice at Jaguar Land Rover, Hannah Linden.
Charlotte Horobin region director Midlands Make UK said:
“Make UK’s International Women’s Day Celebration continues to go from strength to strength every year. It is brilliant to bring a community of like-minded women together cross across UK manufacturing to celebrate their successes, but also share best practice to continue to ensure manufacturing offers inclusive and rewarding employment opportunities.”
Women make up 29% of Britain’s manufacturing workforce, 8% of apprentices and only 18% of company boards. In contrast, in countries such as Iceland and New Zealand women are highly visible in senior or managerial positions, representing 45.9% of board members.
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