b'20 Member News November 2019Diversity in engineeringAsk the experts: will take hold and good people will leave to join more dynamic and forward-thinking firms.how can we improve Why does engineering have a diversity and inclusion problem?diversity in engineering?Douglas: Engineering in the UK is a traditionally white, male-dominated industry and a wide range of factors such as societal perceptions, stereotypes and Speakers from our forthcomingA recurring theme inparental influence contribute Engineering Diversity and Inclusionthe news is that peopleto an industry which lacks tend to hire peoplediversity. Creating a more conference explain how engineering andsimilar to themselves.diverse workforce requires a HR managers can widen the diversity ofHow can HR teams helpcollective and coordinated effort to present an alternative their teams for greater business success. recruiting managersview of engineering careers, break the mould? alongside meaningful investment Whats your topLynne: For too often and forMamta: Focus on recruitingin workplace inclusivity.tip for engineeringtoo long, gender equalitybased on academic ability,Yasmeen: As a Scottish Pakistani has been the business ofexperience and internationalMuslim female, Id say that the and HR managerswomen. This needs to change.background. By simply recruiting profession has to recognise wanting to widenTransforming equality andthose who are similar, you willthat diversity and inclusion the diversity of theirdiversity in business will beonly generate similar resultsextends beyond gender. In engineering teams? achieved better and fasterand within the innovative world1996 I started my career as an by men and women workingof engineering this isnt theengineer; two decades later I Aileen: My top recommendationtogether in partnership,best strategy. Engineeringcontinue to seek role models would be to pay attention towith strong top-downis a diverse profession, so itfrom minority ethnic backgrounds work place culture. Who wouldleadership essential to driveis essential that there is ain engineering, talking about want to work in this team? Aresustainable commitment. diverse and inclusive workforce,their personal and professional employees able to come to work,otherwise your competitionjourneys with enthusiasm.be themselves and communicateAlan: We need to recruit openly to their employer aboutenough engineers and all aspects of their life from worktechnicians from diverseOur Engineering Diversity and Inclusion Conference takes place to family and health?Once youbackgrounds in the first7-8 November in Glasgow. Find out more at: theiet.org/diversityaddress the culture within yourinstance, to let young people organisation you are more likely toup and down the country attract and retain diverse talent.meet or see appropriate roleOur experts models who match a wide Yetunde: Show that youvariety of backgrounds. Yetunde Adediran MIETOllie Folayan value your employees andFounder and ComputerChair of AFBE-UK Scotlandtheyll be more satisfied andLorna: Early STEMScientist at OpenVirtualSTEMlikely to stay in their jobs.engagement is vital to growYasmeen Hussain In particular, an inclusivescience capital and inspireLorna Bennet MIETEducation Enhancement organisation - that valuesthe next generation. It isMechanical Design Engineer,Team, University of the everyone - helps to increaseimportant for companies toOffshore RenewableWest of Scotlandproductivity in people sufferingwork together with schoolsEnergy Catapult and 2018 from a variety of backgrounds,WES Prize winner Douglas Morrison with mental health issues. including those that are non- Director of the Scottish Ollie: One way to impacttraditional, under-representedProfessor LynneInstitute of Innovation and recruitment and retention isand currently not engagedCadenheadKnowledge Exchangespending time with studentsin STEM activities, as theVisiting Professor in Governance and Enterprise Edinburgh NapierAileen OHagan while they are at university,ASPIRES Reports showUniversity and the Chair ofIndustry Recruitment enabling them to accessthat careers educationWomens Enterprise Scotland Coordinator at Equate Scotlandengineers working on realis not currently reaching projects. It can be quite a steepthose most in need of it. Sergeant Alan CameronMamta Singhal CEng MIET learning curve starting out inSpecialist EngagementProduct Design Engineer industry especially if you are fromTeam Scotland andand former Young Woman one of the under-representedNorthern Ireland, RAF Engineer of the Yeargroups in engineering.'