Andrew Dismore

Dear Editor,

June 23rdis Women’s Engineering Day, which focuses attention on the careers in engineering and technical roles for girls and women. Your readers may not be aware that women make up just 9% of the engineering workforce in our country – the lowest in Europe – and that last year not a single woman in London undertook a higher level apprenticeship in construction or engineering. This is not only an issue of equality, but of economics: we are currently missing out on the potential skills and talents of thousands of women in Barnet and Camden and beyond.

I am pleased the Mayor is taking steps to address this issue. As part of the Skills for Londoners project, he has established the Mayor’s Digital Talent Programme which is investing £7 million to help young people get the right skills to fill digital, creative and technology occupations. This programme will have a specific focus on young women, and the Mayor has produced a best practice guide to help companies attract women and other under-represented groups to digital apprentices. He has also launched a Construction Academy Scheme which aims to increase the number of skilled construction workers in London to help meet housebuilding targets.

I hope the government will follow the Mayor’s example and ensure the careers of the future are open to all.

Yours,

Andrew Dismore AM

London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden