When Ada Lovelace published her thoughts on the “Analytical Machine” in 1842, she set into motion a legacy that continues to be felt to this day. Without her, STEM, manufacturing, and our daily lives would look radically different.
Ada Lovelace was a pioneer of modern computing. Her vision that calculating machines could perform nearly any task if the digits processed are symbolic of other things (like text or music), set the stage for later innovators such as Alan Turing.
As we celebrate Ada Lovelace Day (8 October), let us remind ourselves that visionary and innovative women have always shaped aerospace, defence, security and space.
The evolving role of women in manufacturing: Current insights and challenges
Today, women continue to play a vital role in shaping and advancing technology and manufacturing yet encounter challenges and hurdles that impact their careers.
In October 2024, Women in Manufacturing UK Initiative (WiM UK) published a report to review the gender disparities in the representation of women in the manufacturing sector and provide actionable insights for organisations, trade associations and government to address these gaps.
The report revealed that despite women making up approximately half of the UK’s workforce, they occupied only 26.1% of the manufacturing jobs in 2022. From this existing share, a large proportion worked in occupations with typically lower wages, such as administrative positions.
The authors of the report further highlighted that in 2023, the UK had the worst participation rate of women in manufacturing across all G7 countries except Italy. Globally, the UK only ranked 15th among top manufacturing countries.
The road to 35% women in the manufacturing workforce
The WiM UK’s report comes at a critical juncture. Its review of the industry’s status quo provides a roadmap for organisations to achieve tangible Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) improvements and implement “a gender-responsive industrial strategy” to enable a 35% participation rate of women in manufacturing by 2035.
The report identifies five key recommendations to achieve a Gender-Responsive Industrial Strategy:
- Gender analysis and inclusive consultations in policy development
- Gender equality targets and allocation of adequate resources
- Gender perspective throughout all programmes and projects
- Monitoring and evaluation of progress and initiatives
- Collaboration with other ministries and agencies
ADS – Helping to shaping manufacturing through diversity
On this year’s Ada Lovelace Day, we welcome all our members to read the WiM UK 2024 report and explore the ways they can actively contribute towards meaningful progress for women in manufacturing and STEM.
ADS is proud to support a number of initiatives targeted towards Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
- ADS serves as a strategic partner to the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter, supporting activity and widening participation for those in the sectors.
- Earlier this year, we launched a landmark partnership with manufacturing skills charity Enginuity, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), and return-to-work specialists STEMReturners. The project enables SMEs to access career returners’ talent. People on a career break, the majority of whom are women, often struggle to re-enter the workplace and this project offers placements in aerospace and automotive sectors.
- ADS is also proud to work closely with the Women in Defence Charter and associated female participation projects in defence.
Interested in getting involved? Contact comms@adsgroup.org.uk.
Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete, lead author of the Women in UK Manufacturing 2024 report, said:
“I extend my gratitude to ADS and all the organisations that made this report possible. The report features practical, real-life examples, guidance, and tools to help organisations enhance diversity and inclusion. The Women in Manufacturing initiative invites stakeholders to engage with this framework, offer feedback, develop and make public their own pledges to create a more equitable and inclusive sector.”
