Thirty aspiring female engineers met with women working on Crossrail on Monday as part of the first National Women in Engineering Day. They met professionals on the railway contract and saw engineering in action at a networking event called ‘Engineer Your Future’ held at Canary Wharf station.

The 30 young women were finalists in a competition run by Crossrail to encourage students between the ages of 16 and 19 to come up with novel ways of boosting participation in engineering among women. Five winners now receive a year’s mentoring from leading Crossrail engineers.

Also in attendance at the event on Monday was the Rail Minister Stephen Hammond.

Mr Hammond said: “We need a workforce with the skills and talent to compete on a global scale. Getting young women interested in construction and engineering is vital for the future of the industry and for the UK’s long term economic growth.”

Crossrail’s chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme added: “There is more we must do to challenge the gender stereotypes that continue to influence some young women in their selection of careers. Crossrail has a number of senior women leading our project and we are working across London’s schools, reaching more than 10,000 students in the past year, to promote engineering.”

Elsewhere this week, Transport for London and the London Transport Museum will host 400 pupils at a rail depot in Acton to promote engineering as an exciting career option.

(Photo: Crossrail)

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