From bath bomb making to a spaghetti/marshmallow tower-building challenge

It was all about the girls today at South West Durham Training as we opened our doors for a Female in Engineering Day.

We welcomed 22 students from Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe for a day finding out about engineering and the training offered at SWDT.

They enjoyed a wide range of activities from pneumatics and CAD/CAM to a spaghetti/marshmallow tower-building challenge and bath bomb making!

The event was planned and organised by SWDT and Woodham Academy to address any misconception that engineering is just for males and increase the Year 9 learners' knowledge and understanding of the multi-faceted industry sector.

According to latest statistics, women account for 16.5% of all engineers, compared to 10.5% reported in 2010. The actual number of women working in engineering roles also increased from 562,000 in 2010 to 936,000 in 2021 There was an overall expansion of the engineering workforce from 5.3m in 2010 to 5.6m in 2021.

Today's young female engineer visitors included Ibi, two-year-old daughter of General Manager Jonathan Hall!

SWDT works with numerous engineering employers, most of whom employ female engineers, and the Woodham Academy pupils were informed all about the range of career opportunities available in this exciting sector.

Pictured (l-r) are: SWDT tutors and staff Keith Shepherd, Richard Wright, Niomi Wright and Tony Garnett, Year 9 students from Woodham Academy and the school's Senior Business Development Advisor Mr Groves, with event organiser Kirsty Lewton.

Kirsty, Senior Business Development Advisor at SWDT, said: “It's been a brilliant day. The students from Woodham Academy really enjoyed the variety of engineering and team-building activities including pneumatics, CAD/CAM, a spaghetti/marshmallow tower-building challenge and bath bomb making. They also enjoyed an afternoon tea-themed lunch. As always it was a pleasure to host the school, students and staff.”