Addressing gender balance - reaping the gender dividend in STEM

Lorna McAlpine STEM Business Co-ordinator E-mail: [email protected]

STEM Business Subgroup focus on 5 recommendations from Success through STEM strategy including: •Develop a clear STEM

careers

path and • Address

gender

balance •Develop STEM

links

in other regions

Activities to address gender balance

• • • • • Devised and consulted on a set of Good Practice Guidelines for addressing gender balance in STEM industries Ran an event ’ Are you getting the balance right?’ on 26 June to engage STEM employers and start to capture ideas and good practice- 70 attended Developed and consulted on a STEM Charter for CEOs; in partnership with Equality Commission NI Gathered 7 Good Practice Case Studies Published STEM supplement in Belfast Telegraph– 17 Sept- featuring female role models

Addressing Gender Balance-Report

published November 2013 • • • • • The Business Case for Gender Equality in STEM –’employ more women and make more money’ Statistics for NI – 11 % employed in high level STEM posts only 25% are women NI STEM CEO Charter Good Practice Guidelines – 22 simple steps for pre- and post –recruitment

Case Studies

Case Studies from report

• • • • • • Schlumberger female engineering scholarship, girls’ schools’ open days NIE and Schrader - female role models in advertising and as STEM ambassadors and as Mentors Ulster Bank- IT, female networking for career development Allstate, extensive range of family friendly initiatives retention Atkins – Women’s Leadership Council , Women’s Development Programme Queen’s University – Athena Swann award holders Cultural issues

What’s Next ?

• • • • • Work with Equality Commission NI to publish Good Practice Manual Sign up more firms to the Charter Organise seminars to discuss the manual Organise a network of STEM employers to partner and implement the guidelines Continue to take opportunities to communicate about the report

Why ... because..

‘STEM- It’s where the jobs are’

Belfast Met Website Link for STEM supplement: http://www.matrix-ni.org/#/stem/4575908443 Link for Addressing Gender Balance Report: http://www.matrix-ni.org/#/stem-news/4580773501