ScotRail is supporting a campaign to encourage more women and members of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community into careers in engineering.

With the slogan, Not all engineers wear hard hats, ScotRail is determined to break down stereotypes and attract young people from all backgrounds, not only to engineering jobs in the rail industry, but to other organisations and sectors

Engineering is an exciting and rewarding career, tackling some of the world’s biggest problems like global warming and Covid-19.

Currently only 12 per cent of Britain’s engineers are women, with just 9 per cent from Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, so the country faces a significant skills and diversity challenge in the sector.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions ScotRail, like many businesses, has been unable to take on any engineering apprentices in 2020. However, the operator is planning to double the intake in 2021 when restrictions begin to ease.

ScotRail is committed to developing a workforce as diverse as the communities it serves. Since 2017, the number of female train drivers has increased by 39 per cent. And, the number of female conductors employed has also risen since 2017, by 16 per cent.

ScotRail has also been officially recognised by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer 2020 in the United Kingdom.

Independent research from the Top Employers Institute found ScotRail provides exceptional employee conditions, nurtures and develops talent throughout all levels of the organisation and has demonstrated its leadership status in the HR environment.

Engineering Day, which this year takes place on Wednesday, 4 November, is a UK-wide campaign from The Royal Academy of Engineering.

Karen Wallace, ScotRail Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager said:

“Historically engineering has not been a sector that has attracted women or people from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic communities, and at ScotRail we are absolutely committed to changing that. There is a place and space for everyone at ScotRail.

“Not all engineers wear hard hats is designed to challenge the conceptions behind engineers. There are so many varied and exciting opportunities within ScotRail for engineering apprentices from all backgrounds. There has never been a more exciting time to be an engineer.”