IET and WISE partner to accelerate UK STEM gender equality

According to recent government statistics, women make up 29 per cent of the current STEM workforce. IET said this remains the biggest and largest untapped talent pool for engineering, science and technology, and as the engineering skills deficit widens, its new partnership with WISE aims to increase the pace of change.

In a statement, Dr Laura Norton, IET head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and new WISE MD, said: “The number of women in STEM occupations has doubled to 1.4 million in the past decade thanks to the hard work of organisations like WISE and the IET – it’s fair to say progress has been made but there’s a long way to go to reach gender parity.

“Together we can increase our impact and drive forward a stronger platform which builds on the leading products and services we both deliver including WISE’s Ten Steps Programme and the IET’s role in championing women in the sector through its Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards.”

Trudy Norris-Grey BA (Hons) FCCA chair, WISE board, said: “This integration represents a huge opportunity for all the individuals, communities and organisations that we both serve.

“By coming together, we are better equipped with the ambition and the tools to significantly make a difference to the gender balance in the sector to achieve our united goal for 35 per cent of women in STEM roles by 2030. Jointly, we have an incredible track-record, heritage, and drive to truly move the dial on gender diversity and to advancing EDI excellence for the benefit of all.”

The IET said it has an ‘experienced’ EDI team which has been promoting and celebrating women working in the sector through various campaigns and initiatives such as its Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards for over 45 years. WISE’s products include its trademarked ‘Ten Steps Programme’ and ‘My Skills My Life Programme’, as well as the WISE Conference and WISE Awards.

“WISE will continue to operate under its current model, in parallel to the IET, to ensure the two organisations can deliver the biggest impact and value to our members and customers,” said Dr Norton.

“We want to hit at least 35 per cent of UK STEM roles filled by women by 2030 and together I believe we can make this happen.”

In separate development, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) hosted ‘ICE Connects: growing the women in Fellowship network’ on February 29, 2024, aimed at improving diversity across leadership roles. 

The event addressed the critical need for increased representation of women at the ICE’s highest grade of membership, Fellowship, and across the breadth of the engineering professions. A panel highlighted the ICE’s dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable infrastructure landscape.

Supported by Arup, the event, which was broadcast from central London, reached satellite events across eight locations around the UK and in Doha, Qatar, as well as online attendees around the world. An upcoming event will also be hosted in Sydney, Australia.