Bath College introduces girls to careers in Construction, Engineering and Computing

Bath College held a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workshop event – Bath Girls in Construction, Engineering and Computing at the Somer Valley Campus, introducing 30 local girls to the opportunities in the sector.

Year 9 and 10 girls were invited to attend workshops run by Bath College staff and guest speakers from companies such as Stride Treglown, Galliford Try, Buro Happold, Willmott Dixon and the Soroptimist Bath & District.

The girls took different workshops in which they built bridges out of different materials, tried on a robotic vest and even got to program robots to navigate around the surface of ‘Mars’, for which they won a Mars Bar if they were successful.

The day started with an introduction from Rachel Bell, an architect who is Head of Business Development and Divisional Director at Stride Treglown who has recently been nominated as one of 30 UK Construction Week role models and was a finalist in the European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards this year.

She said: “I am really proud to be regarded as a role model in the construction industry. There is still only 14% of the construction industry who are female. If you look at site based jobs and trades, that is reduced to just 1%.

“As an architect it’s exciting to see how technology is changing: how we draw, present and engage with design along with new apprenticeships and new careers emerging through connections to other industries.

“It was wonderful to be a part of the Bath Girls in Construction, Engineering and Computing day and help inspire the next generation of girls entering the sector.”

Dr Daisy Walsh, Head of Technology at Bath College said that: “We are delighted with how the day went, we had a fantastic selection of guest speakers who we hope will come back for future workshops.

“I was really impressed with how engaged the Year 10 and 11 learners were and hope to see them at the College in the next couple of years leading the way for young women in the industry.”

Bath College has a range of STEM courses, to find out more visit www.bathcollege.ac.uk