Network Rail has been working with schools in Surrey in an attempt to get more women working in the industry. The event at Ash Manor School started the campaign that has designed to show teenage girls the variety of different careers available in the engineering and wider railway industry.

Network Rail is attempting to set targets of increasing the female workforce to 20% by 2020. The ‘People Like Me’ scheme has been launched in an attempt to inspire young women and encourage them to pursue a career in the engineering sector.

Network Rail is one of Britain’s biggest employers, and they have recognised the role it has to play in encouraging the future generations of the engineering sector. The current pipeline of female talent entering the engineering sector is low. It is thought by a woman in Science and Engineering suggest that the reason for this is because 50,000 girls are turning away from an education in the STEM subjects every year.

Following on from National Apprenticeship and International Women’s Day, Network Rail is trying to work directly with schools to push young people to consider the STEM subjects. Including works in schools across London to get younger people interested in apprenticeships in the Rail sector, Network Rail are placing even more effort on trying to encourage women into STEM subjects and careers in the railway industry.

‘People Like Me’ events will incorporate a set of activities that allows students to understand their personal strengths in order to relate them to the very broad range of roles that engineers do. Due to outdated stereotypes and expectations of working on the railway has driven young women away from considering a career with companies like Network Rail. By presenting the different aspects of the careers it could allow students to have their imagination fired more by the opportunity for a career in this industry. Network Rail will be going into schools around the country in order to present educational sessions for careers in STEM industries.