Product category:
Engineering Industry Developments and Awards
News Release from: UK Resource Centre for Women in SET
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 18 July 2008
Engine company wind inclusion award
The UKRC Diversity and Inclusion Award, now in its fourth year, offers recognition to companies who have embedded equality and diversity into their working ethos.
Cummins, the world's largest independent manufacturer of diesel engines, has won the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC) Diversity and Inclusion Award at the Manufacturing Excellence (MX) Awards 2008 Organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the MX Awards celebrate some of the world's most innovative companies
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 29 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Engineers discuss climate change
A seminar in September will allow the power industry to show how it is responding to the challenges of climate change and the technological and commercial opportunities that it presents.
Electric car race gains new support
David Richards, Chairman of Prodrive and Aston Martin, has become a patron of Greenpower's electric car challenge.
The UKRC Diversity and Inclusion Award, now in its fourth year, offers recognition to companies who have embedded equality and diversity into their working ethos.
Cummins was chosen as the winner due to its creation of innovative solutions to attract more female staff into the traditionally white, male-dominated automotive industry.
It has introduced a number of initiatives including new shifts, programs such as Mentoring Circles and the Women's Affinity Group, projects to address equal pay and has shown its commitment to flexible working.
Further reading
Agreement aims to bring more women to engineering
SummitSkills has been actively working with UKRC since 2006, promoting gender equality internally and also to its member organisations.
Safety seminar programme announced
Sarah Brown will deliver a seminar on day two about the perennial issue of asbestos management.
The energy Cummins has put into this is already paying dividends in terms of recruitment at all levels.
Annette Williams, Director of the UKRC, said: "Cummins is an excellent example of a company dedicated to promoting fairness and equality throughout the workplace".
"The impact of its commitment is evidenced by the representation of female employees in the company that is extremely impressive".
"It increased the number of women in production roles on the shop floor from 14 in 2006 to 69 women in 2008".
"Only 5.3% of engineering professionals in the UK are women and although half a million women in the UK are qualified in science, engineering or technology (SET), less than a third actually work in those sectors".
"Yet these sectors are all experiencing increased global competition at a time when they are also suffering severe skills shortages; it is estimated that by 2011 only one third of the workforce will be white, male and under 45".
"Against this backdrop, there is undoubtedly a real business case for diversifying the traditional recruitment base".
"Women remain very much unrepresented in science and engineering as a whole and also in the manufacturing industry".
"The UKRC is here to provide resources and guidance to companies and individuals wanting to improve this position".
"Our sponsorship of the MX Award is designed to recognise what companies are achieving but also to increase awareness that productivity and equality are co-dependant".
"The UKRC offer a range of services to bring about positive change for companies and for individuals".
• UK Resource Centre for Women in SET: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
