Gatwick hosted 77 local mothers and daughters to help change perception of engineering as a male dominated industry
- Unique airside tour of Gatwick designed to encourage both mothers and daughters to consider careers in engineering
- Female engineering apprentice was on hand to inspire the visitors and talk through her experience at the airport
- Tour included learning how aircraft park with a laser guided system
Gatwick provided an exclusive insight into engineering at the airport – on 19th September – in an event designed to encourage both mothers and daughters to work in the industry.
Seventy-seven pupils and mothers from Millais all-girls school in Horsham had a tour of the airfield, fire station, and learned, in real time, how aircraft are parked through a laser guided system.
Another practical display by Gatwick’s fire service helped develop an understanding of the factors involved when putting out fires on aircraft.
Liberty Frankland, a female engineering apprentice at Gatwick spoke to the visitors about her personal experience and to highlight the importance of taking up Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects when following her chosen career path.
By hosting the day, the airport is aiming to change the perception of STEM-related careers as being predominantly for males, and to encourage more women and girls to take up STEM subjects if they wish to pursue a career in engineering.
The event is part of Gatwick’s Community Engagement programme, which supports projects that have a lasting, positive impact on large numbers of local people across the region.
Gatwick also recently announced that it is partnering with 20 local schools to get kids thinking about engineering.
Tony Yates, Head of Engineering at Gatwick Airport, said: “We were delighted to have the mums and daughters of Millais Girl’s school visit the airport. It is so important that women of all ages don’t view the engineering industry as a male-dominated environment. We believe that promoting the opportunities that STEM careers can lead to at the airport is a good step forward in giving the industry a better gender profile, which could also help improve productivity.”
Liberty Frankland, an engineering apprentice at Gatwick Airport said: “I decided an apprenticeship was for me as I wanted to continue studying and learning more, but I wanted the experience and context to what I was learning which I felt I couldn’t get from going straight to university.
“The airport is a great place to learn more about engineering and other technical or science based subjects and I hope that this day will help to inspire other students into considering careers in these subjects.”
