News | Friday, 11th February 2022
#NAW2022: Degree apprenticeships increasing the number of women in science
University championing alternative routes into STEM careers for women
Degree apprentices at Manchester Metropolitan University are helping to tackle a global issue when it comes to the representation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Today (February 11) is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is part of the United Nations’ mission to achieve full and equal access in science for women and girls and further achieve gender equality.
Manchester Metropolitan’s ‘Force for Change’ report shows how degree apprenticeships are helping to attract more women into traditionally male-dominated industries, addressing skills shortages and closing the STEM gender gap.
Overall, 34% of current Manchester Metropolitan STEM apprentices are women. This represents a substantial improvement on the national undergraduate average of 22% reported by the Office for Students (2020) and this has been a sustained uplift for the last five years.
Manchester Metropolitan has worked hard to make more young women aware of the wealth of opportunities opened up by a degree-level STEM apprenticeship and worked closely with employer partners to help them increase the diversity of their workforce.
Liz Gorb, Director of Apprenticeships at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “There have been many previous initiatives to try and increase the percentage of women in STEM roles, but degree apprenticeships are proving to be very successful in attracting women into these sectors.
“We are working closely with employer partners who are keen to improve the diversity of their workforce. We also have non-standard entry procedures and open views on subject choice admissions, which has been key. This year we have 236 women on STEM apprenticeships, with women outnumbering men on our Laboratory Science Degree Apprenticeship at 56 per cent.”
Julia Domanska is a Digital & Technology Solutions Apprentice with AJ Bell and Manchester Metropolitan.
Julia said: “I came from a non-technical background and the amount of knowledge I’ve gained and studying I’ve done over the last three is incredible. People are worried that technology is not right for them but doing a degree apprenticeship helps you understand how important it is and what a good career path it offers.
“I would recommend this course to young women as it opens doors to many different pathways. My CV is looking amazing and it makes me so employable.”
Angela Davies, Head of Learning and Development at AJ Bell, said: “The female digital degree apprentices we have brought into the business have increased the number of women in our technology and services department by 20%.
“The impact of having degree apprentices in our business has been bigger than we hoped. We are not waiting for them to add value, they are filling that skills gap quickly with the support of Manchester Met.”
For more information on degree apprenticeships at Manchester Metropolitan visit the University’s apprenticeships webpage.
