STUDENTS from the Keighley district have taken part in an initiative designed to encourage more women into engineering.

A contingent from Keighley College and the sixth form at Parkside School, Cullingworth, visited a railway plant in County Durham.

They were shown around the Hitachi Rail site at Newton Aycliffe and had the chance to chat to female staff members working in various roles, from design and test engineering to marketing and communications.

The workers spoke about routes into their careers and what their jobs entailed.

Students were shown some of the trains currently being manufactured at the plant.

The visit, which also involved students from Shipley and Darlington colleges, was staged to coincide with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Its aim is to encourage young women to discover more about careers available to them in work areas related to STEM – science, technology, engineering and maths – which are traditionally male-dominated.

Organisers of the visit said the feedback from participants, who are studying subjects ranging from biology to electrical installation, had been extremely positive.

The trip was co-ordinated by officers from Community Rail Lancashire and the Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership, as part of the Women in STEM project.

Nina Harding, communications manager at Hitachi Rail, said: “It was fantastic to meet such an enthusiastic group of young women.

“As an industry, we all need to work together to try to improve the gender balance and this was a great way to showcase the exciting opportunities available for all in rail.

“Hopefully some of these students will become our rail engineers of the future.”

Youmna Khan, project lead for Bradford Skills, said students were representing some of the Industrial Centres of Excellence that are delivering a careers and technical education initiative.

She added: “This is a great initiative that works in partnership with the employers to provide industry awareness to enable young people to make an informed decision.

“Visits such as the one to Hitachi provide young people with career awareness and an insight into opportunities within the rail industry and the various routes and progressions available.

“It was a successful visit.”

Claire Turner, a college marketing and engagement manager in Darlington, said the experience was invaluable for all those who took part.

“During these visits the young people not only learn about a particular industry but also get to live the experience,” she said.

“It is important for the students to understand the careers and opportunities that are on their doorstep – and to remove stereotypes about STEM industries – so more women are encouraged into science, technology and engineering roles.”

Thanks were expressed to LNER and Northern which provided rail travel for the students.