STEM Apprenticeship Toolkit in collaboration with WISE

We are working with Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) to create a toolkit for employers to support them in recruiting more gender-balanced groups of apprentices.

Project details

Why are we doing this project?

STEM jobs are rapidly growing, but the UK faces a widening skills gap, needing an estimated 1.8 million additional engineering/STEM workers over the next decade. Encouraging more individuals, especially women and girls, to pursue STEM careers is essential, as women currently represent only 29% of the STEM workforce and 14% of STEM apprenticeship completions. This project aims to support employers in diversifying their apprenticeship intake and attracting more women into STEM roles to build a more skilled and diverse workforce.

About the project

In collaboration with WISE (Women into Science and Engineering), the project aims to provide businesses with a comprehensive toolkit to encourage more women and girls into STEM apprenticeships. It emphasises early engagement, inclusive recruitment practices, and support for retaining female talent, offering practical advice and best practices to overcome barriers for women and girls.

Project lead

Tabby Hanlon-Scott

Sector Engagement Lead

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Project status

The STEM Apprenticeship Toolkit in collaboration with WISE is still a work in progress, but we expect the toolkit to be available by the end of the year.

We are currently developing the toolkit to incorporate the latest data and research on women and girls in STEM, ensuring it addresses current trends and challenges. This process involves close collaboration with WISE and internal teams to promote inclusivity and provide diverse examples of best practices, particularly in recruitment and support strategies.

Once the content is finalized, we will prepare the toolkit for its new home on our website, making it accessible to employers and stakeholders seeking to enhance gender diversity in their apprenticeship programs. The toolkit will offer comprehensive guidance on recruitment, inclusivity, and continuous support strategies for women in STEM apprenticeships.

Project outputs

STEM representation

Women make up only 14% of STEM apprenticeships, highlighting the need for initiatives to attract more female talent.

Closing the gender gap

In 2022/23, only 4,360 out of 45,970 engineering apprenticeship starts were women, reflecting a significant gender gap.

Women in STEM

The percentage of women in engineering and technology dropped from 16.5% in 2022 to 15.7% in 2023, losing 38,000 women.

STEM exposure

45% of students report being inspired by STEM exposure through extracurricular activities, underscoring the importance of employer engagement.