b'44 Partner News Spring 2021CorporateThe scheme will provide me with so manyworked as a chemical engineer for a batterya difference. Caroline Ellis-Jones, Site opportunities in different engineering roles.manufacturer before becoming a teacher,Engineering Manager adds: I dont feel that ABF is a great company to work for with a lotand looking back at it now she was the onebeing female has held me back at all. I feel of support available for us as graduates asthat probably first got me thinking aboutI have generally always been viewed based well as once we are off-scheme.studying engineering.on my ability as an engineer rather than my gender. Katelyn Elders believes that the schemeFor Megan Richards, the idea of a career has given her all the tools to succeed inin the food industry was always appealing:During the roundtable the subject of how to industry: The scheme gave a really strongThrough my time at university and during myencourage more women into STEM careers foundation to build upon as Ive movedplacement I knew I wanted a career in thewas also discussed. Caroline believes into different roles within ABF. The openingfood industry. It was the most appealing tothere needs to be more insights into the placement on shift with the engineers wasme as I wanted to work for household namesengineering industry and the critical role that vital to complement the book-learning donethat I could see in the supermarket.it plays in society. There needs to be more at university and give some proper practicaleducation in schools to both girls and boys skills.Being a woman in a male-dominated industryabout the massive role that engineers play in such as engineering can sometimes beindustry, she said. TV programs like Inside The graduate scheme is allowing somechallenging, but Paramvir Dhanda explainsthe Factory are a brilliant way to engage of these women a pathway into theirhow Allied Bakeries and ABF have created anpeople and show the processes that are dream career and providing them with theinclusive and supportive environment for theirused to manufacture everyday goods. framework to achieve their goals. Speakingfemale engineers: Even though I have moved about what inspired her to become anaround four different sites from maintenanceKatelyn Elders also believes that engineer, Nimi Oladapo, a Graduate Engineer,to projects, I have consistently been met withunderstanding is key in encouraging said: My journey to engineering definitelysupport and friendly faces. ABF has previouslyyoung people into the industry. Building wasnt a clear-cut one, and if youd havetaken several female engineers onto theawareness of the variety of roles available told me prior to my final GCSE exams that Igraduate scheme. Whilst this started out aswithin the field is critical, she said. STEM is would go on to study engineering, I wouldnta great support network and forum to shareeverywhere, in every industry, but its easy have believed you! So, Im eternally gratefulideas, theyve now become friends and roleto miss. For example, you could look at a loaf to my mum for her persistence in pushingmodels to look up to.of bread and just see the baking; actually me to consider it as a career option, simplyyou need engineering to build and maintain based on me being hailed as the householdThe importance of having role models to lookthe equipment, finance to oversee the engineeralways ready to change lightup to is echoed by Nimi Oladapo: Ive beenmoney, scientists to test the ingredients and bulbs and put together IKEA furniture!really inspired to have met several womenthe finished product, and IT to join all the leading the way in industry and academiasystems together. Female role models also played a big role inand have had some amazing line managers the career aspirations of Amber Lockhart,and mentors, both male and female who haveAnother key building block of generating Maintenance Planner & Stores Coordinator:supported me, taken me under their wingawareness and breaking down stereotypes I wanted to be able to harness my creativityand helped develop me massively.around careers in STEM, is educating from but in a practical way and I had always beenIn my experience so far, I think if yourean early age about the opportunities that fascinated by how things were made. I had awilling to learn, get stuck in and believe incan be found in engineering and technology female chemistry teacher at school who hadyourself, your gender doesnt really makejobs. Amber Lockhart said: Having female role models attending schools to give talks to much younger pupils will encourage them to study STEM subjects when it comes to choosing their subjects later in their academic career. I think its often hard to visualise what a career in STEM would look like in the real world when youre at school, so site visits would help with this. All of the female engineers we spoke with are currently enjoying, or on their way to, great success within the FMCG sector and the graduate scheme has played a great part in that. To find out more information about the different schemes ABF Grocery offer, visit their website: abf-grocery-grads.com/our-schemes Paramvir Dhanda'