The Lincolnshire Institute of Technology is helping to reduce gender inequality in STEM workforces, supporting over 600 female students to learn STEM skills across the region.
A total of 605 female students are currently enrolled on courses across the organisation’s nine education partners, which accounts for 43% of all enrolled students. This is almost double the percentage (25%) of women currently working in STEM industries, according to research conducted by Women in Tech UK.
Having supported around 2,500 female students since its inception in 2019, the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology aims to tackle gender imbalances in STEM workforces and create successful pathways for women pursuing careers in areas such as engineering, construction and food manufacturing.
Mick Lochran, Director of the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology, said:
“We are proud to support and safeguard the future of the STEM workforce by offering real career opportunities for our students, and we remain committed to providing female students with a tangible gateway to STEM careers.
“By championing inclusion and diversity for our county’s workforces, we look to bring fresh innovation to Greater Lincolnshire and contribute towards reducing gender disparity across STEM jobs. We provide pathways for female students to progress their careers and encourage more women to get involved in the careers they aspire towards.”
Annie Wilson is studying for a BSc Hons in Precision Agriculture at Riseholme College, one of the education partners of the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology. She said:
“This course opens more doors and with the technology we’re learning about being quite new, it’s good for the future because it gives you a better understanding and puts you a step above everybody else. It makes you stand out in the industry and it gives you that stepping stone.
“I’ve learned so much more coming here than I would have done if I carried on working on a farm, and it’s that in-depth knowledge of the science and the technology that gives you the upper hand.”
The Lincolnshire Institute of Technology is a partnership between employers and education partners across the county - including the University of Lincoln, University Campus North Lincolnshire, University Centre Grimsby, Boston College, Grantham College & University Centre, Lincoln College, Riseholme College, Lincoln UTC and Stamford College.
It forms part of a network of 21 Institutes of Technology (IoT) across England, backed by some £290 million of government investment. Each IoT focuses on location-specific specialisms that are designed to plug skills gaps and develop future talent for the local workforce, supporting the regional and national economy in the process.
To find out more about the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology, visit www.liot.ac.uk.