INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN ENGINEERING DAY - MEET OUR FEMALE ENGINEERS

Bury College is celebrating International Women in Engineering Day by putting the spotlight on just some of our incredible women Engineering students. Women in Engineering Day is an annual international awareness campaign centred on the work and achievements of women engineers. This year’s theme is ‘Engineering Heroes’, highlighting the major role that engineers have played in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the efforts they are making towards tackling the problems of the future, including climate change.

The Engineering students at Bury College will be the engineers of the future, tackling structural issues both local and global. Ellie Stokes, a Level 3 Engineering student, came to Bury College from Tottington High School Academy, and hopes to progress onto a higher-level apprenticeship in either Nuclear or Aerospace engineering when she finishes her course. She said “I wanted to do an engineering course because I wanted to do something challenging and new. The department feels very inclusive and I have made loads of friends. My favourite part of the course is learning how to use the new software, including computer aided design software.”

Libby Smith also joined Bury College from Tottington High School Academy, and has gained the skills necessary for employment or further study in the future. She said, “Studying an Engineering course at Bury College allowed me to develop both my teamwork and independent learning skills. The tutors are all really supportive and good at explaining things.” Libby also explained her plans for the future, “I want to either study a Civil Engineering course at university or get a job at an engineering firm and work my way up.”

Lucy Farrell also has ambitions towards Civil Engineering, hoping to secure a higher-level apprenticeship in the sector. She was inspired to study engineering by the practical subjects she studied at school. The former Unsworth Academy pupil said, “I wanted to do engineering because I enjoyed Construction and Design Technology in school, and wanted to do a practical course like that. I really like studying maths as part of my course, and I have improved my computer skills so much. When I started at Bury College, I could barely even save a file!”

Christopher Mayoh, Head of Curriculum for Engineering, said “The female students that choose to study at Bury College have great ambition and all the skills required to progress in the competitive Engineering industry. Bury College strives to ensure that a student’s gender has no impact on their access to a course, and that all students are provided with the skills and confidence to achieve their potential and progress within the sector.”