It’s well known that women are under-represented in STEM fields. Young girls, however, continue to prove they have the knowledge and aptitude to be successful in the sector.. Many different studies have shown that the achievement in maths and science for female students is on par with their male peers.
Forward-thinking businesses are aware that a diverse workforce can help maximize innovation, creativity and competitiveness. Schneider Electric understands that to increase the representation of women in STEM is important and, in order to do this, they need to engage a new generation of talent.
We take a look at some of the ways Schneider Electric is pursuing its mission to increase the number of women working in STEM.
Go Green in the City
Schneider Electric’s Go Green in the City competition invites young innovators to present their ideas for creating smarter, more energy-efficient and sustainable cities to some of the world-leading industry figures at Schneider Electric’s Global Innovation Summit.
The 2019 competition saw over 23,000 young innovators from 165 countries take part - including 57 per cent women.
Two young women - Adrienne Roser and Rachel Ramage - MSc Sustainable Cities students from the University of Leeds, were announced as UK finalists.
“It’s been amazing to see our ideas become larger and more defined as the process has continued. The competition is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and learn from some of the leading figures in sustainability,” commented Rachel.
Hosting a Girls in STEAM Conference
Schneider Electric hosted an exciting Girls in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) conference to inspire students. During the event, a variety of STEAM fields were showcased through six women sharing their stories about how they started their careers and have continued building their experiences in STEAM. The conference also featured many hands-on activities to help the female audience feel empowered to pursue their own STEAM careers.
Kathleen Neff, Account Manager at Schneider Electric Energy & Sustainability Services, attended the event. “The opportunity to spark a young girl’s interest in a STEAM career is why I was so excited to be part of Schneider Electric’s first annual Girls in STEAM Empowerment Conference,” she commented. “It’s important for educators and companies that will hire these girls in the future to enhance STEAM learning opportunities for students.”
Regularly visiting schools and engaging with students
Schneider Electric works hard to provide teachers with the tools and resources they need to engage girls and boys in STEM careers.
The company’s STEM Ambassadors go into schools offering activities and events, supporting STEM programmes and help to educate and motivate students in the world of energy and sustainability, highlighting the roles and careers needed to support businesses like Schneider Electric in the future. Schneider Electric has a sound Apprenticeship Scheme – offering 3 levels of Appreticeship.
Across the UK, Schneider Electric has a team of around 130 STEM ambassadors who participate in local activities like science fairs, school projects and career events. Schneider Electric’s Eurotherm also offers one-week placements to school-aged girls so they receive hands on practice and can learn about career paths.
Schneider Electric also hosts highly successful Bring Your Child to Work Days across many of its sites – where employees' children spend the day understanding the world of Schneider whilst having lots of fun!
Women in Tech and SuperDaughters
This year, Schneider Electric supported a Women in Tech Career Fair in London that featured a talk from Shaa Ravi, an avid STEM ambassador, who inspired women by addressing topics such as building your brand, dealing with being the only woman in the room, the importance of finding mentors and mentoring, and calling out bias. Schneider also celebrated SuperDaughter Day.
A fantastic apprenticeship offering
Plus, Schneider Electric offers exciting apprenticeship opportunities for young people. Apprentices achieve the relevant qualifications over a part-time programme whilst learning on the job. They embark on a series of placements working alongside Schneider's expert teams, while making a real contribution to the business.
Participants gain and apply practical and technical knowledge in a range of subject areas, including technology, allowing them to develop personal skills while building relationships with people across the company. Schneider Electric provides brilliant training which includes an induction and a personal development programme.
A whole host of initiatives encouraging women in STEM
The above activities offer just a small taste of how Schneider Electric engages with the community and schools in order to inspire women into the world of STEM.
In addition, Schneider Electric continues to motivate and inspire its own staff. A wide range of training and development opportunities including mentoring and coaching programmes are available to support women’s careers. Plus, of course, many women working for Schneider Electric get involved in the STEM activities covered in this article to help inspire the next generation.
Join prime employer for women, Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric values the unique contributions of employees of different genders and backgrounds. The company is clearly committed to encouraging women into the exciting world of STEM careers.
If you think you can contribute something unique to Schneider Electric, search and apply for one of their brilliant jobs today.
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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.