Women In Manufacturing Roundtable
Women in Manufacturing was the focus of a roundtable event staged at Shipley College and hosted by NatWest Bank as part of Bradford Manufacturing Weeks.
Women currently comprise just 26.1 per cent of the workforce in the manufacturing sector and Britain ranks last among the top 15 manufacturing nations in terms of proportion of the workforce.
The roundtable event, one of the key events of Bradford Manufacturing Weeks – an awareness raising programme organised by West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and SkillsHouse Bradford, heard how there were a number of barriers to women being greater represented in the sector.
These included a lack of female applicants for the higher qualified roles, poor awareness in schools of the opportunities for women in manufacturing and the need to address any stigmas around women in manufacturing and eliminate unconscious bias.
Attendees also spoke of how the need for change needs to be embedded and driven by leaders to ensure equal opportunities in the sector, as well as the fact that role models have an important role to play to encourage more women into the sector.
Other conclusions were that AI will play a greater role in manufacturing and there is a recognition of the great skills that women can bring to the sector, such as creativity.
Laura Capper, Head of Construction and Manufacturing for NatWest Bank hosted a discussion and other organisations who attended included: SkillsHouse Bardford Council, Enginuity, ITI Group, Solenis UK Industries Ltd, Azets, Christeyns, West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, UKGreetings, Myton Food Group (suppliers to Morrisons), West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Habasit, Produmax and Powell UK.
Laura also demonstrated how women earn 15.9 per cent less than men in manufacturing in 2023, which is higher than the UK economy gender pay gap of 14.3 per cent. A total of 26.2 per cent of women in manufacturing work part-time, compared with only 6 per cent of men and between 2023–2024 there were 4,700 female starts in Manufacturing & Engineering vs. 41,000 male starts.
Businesses have tried to put a number of measures in place, such as:
1. Always ensuring at least one female applicant for each role before going to interview.
2. Holding an open morning every year to allow potential applicants and parents to come onsite and see the environment. Many women had not visited a manufacturing site prior to their employment in the sector.
3. National Manufacturing Day and Bradford Manufacturing Weeks take place every autumn, encouraging a range of employers to open their doors, providing factory tours and more to support people into the industry.
Things that are working well include:
1. One company stated that morale within the business had improved due to a greater gender mix.
2. Careers fairs allowing manufacturers to engage with potential talent.
3. Some fantastic routes into the sector through apprenticeships and these are increasingly being recognised as a good alternative to the more traditional University pathway.
4. Engaging with school teachers to make them aware of opportunities offered in the sector.
5. Engaging with schools to do onsite competitions and activities that fire the student’s imagination.
Other things that employers will implement after today’s meeting include:
1. Increased online promotion of the sector to potential female applicants, using the right social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram for the younger generation.
2. Take part in events to engage with schools, such as StemFest and Bradford Manufacturing Weeks.
3. Introducing female manufacturing ambassadors into schools.
4. Ensure effective work experience and educate potential applicants about apprenticeships.
5. Introduce T Level students within the business.
6. Change the mindset within the business and positively discriminate to support female employees, including allowing for part time working if needed.
