Veolia and UK government to engage women in STEM careers

A recent report from the Royal Academy of Engineering has said that 100 000 new STEM graduates are needed in the UK every year until 2020 to maintain current employment number. To aid this, Veolia has committed to visit at least 20 universities across the UK by the end of the year to promote STEM careers to female students. These range from biochemistry to mechanical engineering, soil science to chemical analytics. The company has also pledged to further increase the percentage of women at all levels in its business through genuine engagement with organisations such as the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion, the Women in Business Club at London Business School and the Inspiring Women Campaign.

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Estelle Brachlianoff, Executive VP, Veolia UK and Ireland said, "this initiative is critically needed. Veolia employees 14 000 people in the UK and we are looking for more female STEM graduates to fill these roles. Women represent half the population and we need to get better at engaging them, particularly when they are making important choices about their career path. This initiative is not just good for women, but UK Plc overall."

Brachlianoff continued, "we are proud of the progress we have made, but there is always more to do. For Veolia, diversity is about more than metrics, it is a business strategy which leads to innovation, the lifeblood of our constantly evolving industry. We welcome the government’s focus on engaging women in STEM careers, which complement our business strategy of embracing diversity through employment from a variety of backgrounds."

Adapted from a press release by Claira Lloyd.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/08052014/veolia_encourage_females_to_stem_492/