As an organisation, one of our key aims is to help to diversify the STEM workforce, which is still predominantly made up of white men. Shockingly, in 2019, it was found that only 24% of the workforce in STEM industries was women.

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2023 and National Careers Week, we reached out to Nitya Singh, a panel member sitting on our Northern Gas Networks’ Young Innovators Council 2023, to ask why she thought it was important to encourage more girls to take an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, and pursue a STEM career.

This is what she said…

“I think we will be held back from many advancements if half of the population is discouraged from doing technical subjects due to archaic and useless prejudices. Some girls may naturally have a keen interest in STEM related subjects and may be able to contribute a great deal if they were encouraged and not stopped.

It is also important to note that STEM careers can serve as positions of power and influence, and there are very few women in those positions, so by encouraging girls to work in STEM fields, they will be able to take on leadership roles and subvert stereotypes about women, and encourage many other girls along the way.

Schools should definitely focus on getting more girls involved in STEM related activities. Teachers should also be more encouraging towards girls wanting to take STEM related subjects. Of STEM related activities that do happen, the majority of the participants are boys, so perhaps STEM events should have workshops focused on getting more girls into STEM.  Girls who show an interest in STEM should also be encouraged by friends and family to pursue a career in STEM.”

For more information on our Youth Insights Programme, click here.