Women’s engineering academy set to attract STEM talent to Sheffield

A new academy is opening in Sheffield at the start of the next academic year aiming to inspire more women to become engineers.

Liberty Steel Female Engineering Academy will open at The Sheffield College’s Olive Grove Campus in September to address skills shortages within the industry.

The launch of the academy follows the signing of a partnership agreement between the college and Liberty Speciality Steels, based in Stocksbridge and Rotherham.

According to organisations Engineering UK and Women in Engineering, only 12 per cent of the engineering workforce is female, with the UK also having the lowest percentage of female engineers in Europe.

Anita Straffon, Deputy Chief Executive, The Sheffield College, said: “We are delighted to work with Liberty Speciality Steels to inspire more women to go further in the engineering sector where there are great career and employment opportunities.”

“Sheffield has a long tradition within this sector and our new partnership agreement reflects a wider commitment that we have to the city and region of supporting employers and their skills needs, job creation and growth.”