A B Graphic International (ABG) has revealed its commitment to improving gender representation within engineering through a combination of targeted outreach initiatives, early-years engagement programmes, and internal development pathways designed to support women.
Speaking at the CIPD Annual Conference, ABG’s head of HR, Karen Robinson, outlined the scale of the challenge, noting that only 16.9% of engineers in the UK are women, with the figure even lower within manufacturing. She explained female students typically begin to lose interest in STEM between Years 5 and 11, meaning intervention must start long before career decisions are made.
“We cannot rely on the talent pipeline to fix itself,” she said. “Girls are disengaging from STEM subjects far too early. If we want a more diverse future workforce, we have to create visible pathways, accessible training opportunities and meaningful interactions that build confidence from a young age.”
To support early engagement, ABG works with HETA (Humberside Engineering Training Association), whose outreach programme delivers more than 100 school activities each year and reaches over 3,000 young people across primary, secondary and further education. HETA provides hands-on activities, careers guidance, and employability skills. ABG builds on this by hosting open days and welcoming students into its production environment.
ABG recently hosted a Women in Engineering Open Day, inviting 20 female students from two local secondary schools. The event provided an opportunity to hear from ABG’s female colleagues about their career journeys, take part in a factory tour, and speak with engineers to better understand the industry and potential career paths.
ABG is also investing in the development of its own employees through the ‘Elevate’ programme, an internal initiative designed to upskill females and provide structured pathways into technical roles. The programme starts with hands-on experience and one-to-one coaching, then progresses to task repetition and electrical fundamentals training. Participants build a personalised development plan and receive regular progress reviews and mentoring.
Looking ahead, ABG plans to broaden the scope of Elevate to include additional functions, strengthen its partnerships with schools, and expand its involvement in HETA-led initiatives. The business also intends to run more Women in Engineering open days.
“The momentum is building,” Karen Robinson added. “But to truly shift the dial, we must keep widening access, deepening partnerships and ensuring that women, whether students or colleagues, see engineering as a welcoming, exciting and achievable career.”
