Schoolgirl engineering initiative - graduate jobs

A campaign has set out to push more schoolgirls towards studying for a degree and a graduate career in engineering and manufacturing.

There are fears that Britain is beginning to lose its competitive edge in these sectors, and the Council for Industry and Higher Education has revealed that fewer than 10% of UK engineers are women, which is the lowest proportion anywhere in the European Union.

Prior to the Talent 2030 Campaign, a study found that advice for schoolgirls interested in engineering was "lacking".

Aaron Porter, director of the initiative, outlined the importance of their work by explaining how the decisions made by 13-year-olds at school not only impact their future careers, but also have an effect on Britain's future economy.

"Our campaign will encourage young people to look at the compelling evidence which shows that not only can jobs in manufacturing and engineering make a huge contribution to our society, but they also deliver a bigger earnings premium than many other careers," he said.

Copyright Press Association 2011