The slow march toward gender diversity in the traditionally male dominated role of UK telecoms engineering appears to be paying off after Airband, which supplies a mix of fixed wireless and full fibre (FTTP) broadband connectivity to various rural communities, appointed its first female engineer.
In a way it’s a little bit disappointing that we still live in an age where gaining a single female engineer requires its own press release, but progress is progress and better one than none. In the meantime, Airband are rightly pleased to have appointed 25-year-old Sophie Crook to their team of 45 engineers, based in Worcester and Devon. She is the first of a wave of six new trainee engineers to hop on-board the ISP.
Sophie started with Airband on October 14th, the day after the world celebrated Ada Lovelace Day. In case you don’t know, Ada Lovelace was one of the first ever female computer programmers, and the second Tuesday of every October is dedicated to her achievement and the way she inspired women to achieve careers within STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths).
Gareth Burgess, Airband’s Head of Engineering, said:
“It was very exciting when Sophie applied because we don’t get many female applicants … Of course, we’re not interested in employing someone just because they’re female, we need people who can do the job and Sophie demonstrated all the qualities we look for – a good attitude, willingness to learn and she showed interest in the industry and in what Airband does.”
Airband said they’re actively working to encourage more women into their engineering team and anybody who wants to apply, male or female, should take a look at their many openings across different parts of the UK (here).
The ISP is currently working to bring faster broadband services to a further 50,000 premises across England and Wales by 2021.
‘Gender diversity’ is just a facade for currency debasement which now forces both men and women to work.
Very long winded way of revealing you’re sexist Mike. Can’t see why more women in the workplace could ever be perceived as a bad thing.
There’s a lot of truth in that Mike. Many married mothers are against diversity for the very valid reason that it threatens the income (of their husband) that pays their mortgage.
Diversity is a zero-sum game. Astonishes that more people can’t see that.
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Nothing that VM/BT haven’t done for years yawn move on – nothing to see here
Just say you’re racist upfront next time Freddie. Then I won’t bother to read the rest of your comment.
Don’t see why anyone could possibly think more black or women engineers in the workplace is a bad thing. It’s crazy that you seem to think it’s bad.
What a pointless story. Diversity of opportunity is a good thing, but not diversity of outcome. I care whether the engineer is good, not whether they are male, female, black, white, gay, straight, whatever.
Unfortunately too many companies look at diversity as a tick box exercise which helps its management move up the ladder these days. Hence this publicity. Someone after a promotion for just doing their job.
You are never going to see equal numbers of male and female engineers unless you actually have strict quotas. Biologically men have a things over people preference, women the reverse(this is also present in monkeys). Girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia(exposure to higher levels of testosterone in the womb) also show greater male behavioural traits. Individuals may vary but at population level the traits hold true.
So when you give men and women a free choice of career you see these preferences play out and men and women tend to cluster in certain professions. Scandinavian countries who have high levels of gender equality have still seen men and women choosing certain careers over others(apparently it’s even more pronounced when people have greater freedom). Cross cultural research comparing many countries also shows men and women have different interests and preferences.
I’m sure this will upset some people but gendered behaviour is rooted in biology and is not simply a “societal construct”. It will always be with us.
Spot on Bob. You been reading Jordan Peterson too?
I’ve been at the same firm for 20 years, and we’ve had about 30 different people work in HR.
I think all but 2 of them have been women. Not much diversity there. Don’t mention it to HR, though – you’ll be sent to some Diversity & Inclusion workshop, eyes thrust open like Alex in A Clockwork Orange.
@MrRightSide
No, I haven’t been following Peterson although I’m aware of him. However I’m used to people pretending men and women are identical and then asking why every profession isn’t split 50/50?
It’s great to see more women in tech. Especially engineers.
I always wonder what Lovelace said to her husband.