Pioneering collaborations are under way to enhance diversity in the Scottish STEM workforce

Big policy statements seeking to correct gender imbalances at work tend to have a top heavy attitude; all about boardroom access and acquiring the key to the executive washroom.

The glass ceiling obstructing too many women from directorship or divisional head posts seems set to remain a legitimate topic of debate for the foreseeable future in spite of latter day progress in the professions. But it neglects to embrace an arguably bigger problem, downstream of leadership tasks, in our major sectors of employment such as engineering.

City of Glasgow College is making it its business to counter at least some of the inequality. It has secured a new deal with support group Equate Scotland, aimed at addressing the issue with a wider perspective. Equate’s cause is to help women studying and working in engineering and scientific areas of employment and those in the broad professional and technical church of built environment.

The professional institutions for the core graduate disciplines in mechanical, civil and electronic/electrical engineering have long since corrected recruitment agendas skewed, inadvertently or through blinkered thought, towards male applicants.

Much was down to a lack of connection with the evolving world when presenting to senior school pupils. One veteran of Scottish manufacturing engineering, now retired but with deep involvement in recruitment policy, once told me without pleasure that his industry just didn’t get it when it was rebuffed by female school leavers.

Terms like "he" and "his" were liberally used in literature, and talks were sometimes so alpha male in their approach that half the potential new recruits from the pool of brightest brains felt immediately alienated.

Today, professional female engineers in each of those sub-sectors are generally welcomed on merit and with open arms. It would otherwise be doubly ridiculous, given the global shortfall of capable young people that currently exists in these specialisms.

Professional bodies are one thing, employers another. For example, qualified female technical staff and mid-management grades, working alongside graduate colleagues, appear to have a longer journey ahead of them before the level playing field is achieved.

In that context it is good to see City of Glasgow College collaborating with Equate Scotland. Earlier this week Scotland’s largest college announced the award of a contract to promote gender equality in the engineering sector. As a result, diversity in the Scottish workforce for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) jobs is likely to be meaningfully enhanced in the longer-term.

"Our College has proven its commitment to gender equality with our pioneering Women-Into-Engineering classes – the first in Scotland," says principal, Paul Little. "These have been welcomed by industry and have resulted in a significant increase in enrolments, work placements and public awareness of the gender imbalance in each sector."

Over the next year the College will deliver more than 25 work placements and internships for female trainees. A number of events are planned in partnership with employers, educational institutes and third sector organisations. That is expected to result in support to around 50 employers through development of "clearer vocational pathways for aspiring female engineers".

The numbers might sound modest. But the important point is that it sets a precedent for action, through merit. And that means more opportunity.

There may be those who view this as a cover for positive discrimination or even an unnecessary sop to political correctness, unlikely to sway hard-headed businesses. Both accusations are easily rubbished: ask any engineering sector employer if they want to ease the workflow dilemma by plugging skills gaps currently stifling growth. You’ll be run over in the rush.

Talat Yaqoob, director of EQUATE Scotland, naturally focuses on the benefits to young women and the example to school leavers considering options, insisting: "Across Scotland, colleges are essential to supporting and developing a future generation of women engineers.

"Equate Scotland’s vision is of a Scottish STEM sector where women are well represented and we can flourish from their ambitions and talent. With this partnership we will come another step closer to that vision."

Equate Scotland sees its 10th anniversary this year. It claims to be "Scotland’s expert in gender equality" in STEM sectors.

Working with industry, academia, the Scottish Government and other public agencies, it is more than a noisy talking shop. It doesn’t just help young people. It assists at all stages of a woman’s career. Advice and
practical consultancy is offered to industry.

At UK level, Equate provides the only female STEM student/industry interconnection network. In practice that works much like the more effective university schemes where employer and graduate can properly evaluate prospects. In addition it holds workshops – from interview performance and making job applications to media training, career development and entrepreneurship.

The City of Glasgow College Engineering Academy for its part offers courses at several levels, including HNC and HND. Subjects include Architectural Technology, Building Surveying, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering – all areas where supply/demand issues arise.

In common with a number of similar further education providers, successful students have the option of moving to the second year of an accelerated university course. Looked at as a piece of joined-up thinking, it’s a route that seems to maximise potential for creating an adequate labour pool with flexibility for the prospective employee. Imagine the positive impact – all things being equal, of course.