Author: European Springs Web Team

The World Economic Forum shows that women account for 20% of engineering graduates but only 11% of the engineering workforce. The Office for National Statistics found that, in April-June 2017, only 48,000 women worked in engineering professions in the country, while there were more than 400,000 male engineers.

 As spring manufacturers, we believe that addressing this still significant gender gap in engineering is of the utmost importance. But how exactly can the country, as well as UK engineering businesses, tackle this issue?

Where Are We Now?

2018 was the ‘Year of Engineering’, a government initiative that arose in response to statistics published by Newbury Electronic showing that only 23% of UK STEM roles were held by women and that the United Kingdom had the lowest percentage of women in engineering in Europe. The Year of Engineering brought more attention to these figures and aimed to improve them.

We believe that more initiatives such as these are needed to see more women in engineering roles. In addition, by bridging the gender gap in engineering, the UK has the potential to add £150 billion to GDP forecasts by 2025, according to McKinsey’s MGI report.

Potential Ways to Bridge the Gender Gap

There are many barriers that appear to stop girls from continuing their STEM studies or pursue engineering careers. These issues are complex and multifaceted, since women are a varied group, but they tend to focus on challenges such as gendered norms and stereotypes. Challenging society’s attitudes and expectations of what consists of a ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ career path is a great start. A way to achieve this would be to engage women with STEM from a very early age, including engineering, to ensure a continued interest in these subjects.

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills says that 43% of STEM vacancies are difficult to fill at the moment due to a skills gap in the industry. To be able to fulfil this demand, we need to find 1.8 million new engineers by 2020, which will also allow the UK to remain competitive in the global economy. Attracting the next generation of engineers, therefore, is crucial; it’s equally important to include women in these initiatives as well, which will help to attract more professionals and address this skills gap at the same time we address the gender gap issue.

Apprenticeships are another great way to ensure more women follow an engineering career. By increasing the number of high-quality apprenticeships, it’s easier to raise awareness of the industry among women, as well as young people.

Female role models and mentors can also influence women’s decision to pursue engineering; in 2014, Esther Dyson, named ‘the most influential woman in all the computer world’, said that “there’s an awful lot of women. But none of us is Bill Gates”. It’s easy to see what Dyson meant; despite the fact that there is a lot of female engineers across the globe, their voices are not getting heard as much. Having someone to look up to can make a huge difference and impact someone’s decision to follow a certain career path.

Another way to bridge the gender gap is to offer girls the chance to have hands-on STEM experience, be it in the classroom or as part of STEM-related after-school programs. Practical learning can give girls more confidence in their abilities, as well as show them the importance of choosing a career in engineering.

Many girls and women place more value on collaborative environments instead of competitive ones. However, many academic programs are often rooted in competition and on ‘winners’ and ‘losers’. It’s vital that schools foster learning environments in which all students can contribute and discuss ideas and solutions. All ways of thinking should be accepted, which can help everyone feel like they fit in.

Not only are there many ways to start reducing the gender gap in engineering, but organisations and businesses should invest in this issue and seek to balance the ratio of women to men in the industry, in order to achieve a more diverse and inclusive work environment.

European Springs & Pressings Ireland understand the importance of addressing the gender gap within engineering. We also know that more must be done. With this in mind, it’s crucial that businesses, as well as the government, take steps to ensure more women are introduced into the sector.

Addressing the skills gap is never an easy task, but understanding it is the first step towards correcting it. In this article, we will consider what some of the biggest companies in manufacturing are doing to bring in a new generation of talented engineers.

The Dyson School of Design Engineering

This school from the Imperial College London is making dents in the skills gap by always looking to improve its course and services. This should encourage prospective pupils to take their course and follow a fulfilling career in the engineering sector. The Dyson School invests in providing better facilities and constantly striving to improve its curriculum to ensure that students will receive not only a good education, but a useful one. The founder, James Dyson, stated that:

‘our esteemed institutions are churning out many graduates with impractical degrees’.

This was said in relation to the fact that many of the children currently entering primary schools will be working in roles and jobs that we can scarcely imagine now. Engineers working on solar-powered cars, or farmers with chemistry degrees perfecting automated farms functioning on hydroponic systems – these are just the tip of the iceberg.

The Dyson School doesn’t just teach Masters and PhD courses, their curriculums also give students the knowledge they need to succeed in the real world by teaching them about commercial strategies too. This means that their talented engineers are less likely to disappear under the radar once they graduate.

What will surprise some readers is that the school is only in its fourth year of teaching, but perhaps their fresh outlook is precisely what the engineering education sector needs at this moment in time. They receive sponsorship from major players in the world of engineering, such as NASA, CERN, and even the NHS, which helps the school to continue to improve and develop its premises, as well as its students.

Some projects that the students of The Dyson School have been tackling include improving solar-powered electric racing cars, quad-rotor drones and helium balloon spaceflight systems. In other words, those who study at The Dyson School will be working on solving problems and issues that will be present in the future, making their ideas and work extremely relevant. In contrast to many institutions, their courses are more than just academic – they are practical too.

For an industry that thrives on innovation, we must ask ourselves why we are one of the sectors with the greatest resistance to change. On average, only 12.9% of the people applying to engineering courses are women, but The Dyson School of Design Engineering prides itself on an almost even split of 48% female students. This teaches the engineering industry that change is possible, and it is happening now.

One aspect that other universities and schools would currently struggle to replicate is The Dyson School’s dedication to providing its students with a debt-free experience. Students at the school are picked from the brightest and best and are subsequently awarded free tuition upon entry to the university.

European Springs & Pressings

The Dyson School of Design Engineering isn’t the only area of manufacturing that is working hard to provide a better learning experience for budding engineers. We are spring manufacturers who have always been concerned with the future of our industry and have been writing articles for years about what we can do to improve:

Advice on Securing Your Dream Job in Engineering

The Importance of National Apprenticeship Week

Is the Future of Engineering in Masterships?

How to Inspire Future Generations of Engineers?

We firmly believe that the future of manufacturing could be bright if we put the effort into fixing the skills gap now. We think that more schools like The Dyson School of Design Engineering would make the difference, alongside more teaching in schools that apprenticeships are not necessarily less respected than a university degree, and that careers such as our own could be more beneficial than the debt they will incur at university.

There are plenty of companies already supporting the next generation by providing apprenticeships. Firms such as British Gas, E.ON, Rolls Royce, Virgin Media and the Royal Navy are just a few of the possible places where the youth of the today can develop their skills and improve their CVs. Will your corporation be the next to join this list of forward-thinking engineers?

When you see the huge exterior of an aircraft, it’s easy to overlook the fact that hundreds of thousands of tiny parts make up this incredible feat of engineering. One key component you will probably not even consider whilst cruising at 38,000 feet is a mechanism that aircraft simply couldn’t operate without: the humble spring.

In this article, we will take a look at how springs are used in aircraft around the world and discuss some of the reasons why springs are the perfect component in the aerospace industry.

Why Are Springs Perfect for Aircrafts?

One of the main reasons that springs are a perfect fit for aircraft is their ability to withstand a huge amount of pressure. Resisting pressure is a key attribute of the vast majority of springs, and thanks to their durable nature, they are an ideal component to be included in any aircraft. Planes require extremely durable, and reliable parts which require very little maintenance or intervention; springs are the perfect answer to all of these requirements.

Of course, it’s absolutely vital that all parts are provided by a reliable and high-quality spring manufacturer, as this will help to ensure the longevity of any spring or wire form that is created for the aerospace industry. Any spring or wire form component which is used in an aircraft must be manufactured with extreme care and precision to ensure that the part is able to work in tandem with other components.

It’s also worth noting that, because there is plenty of scope to manufacture a spring to pretty much any requirement, this makes them an attractive component when putting together any new, innovative design ideas. A huge variety of springs such as torsion springs, tension springs and die springs are manufactured for a whole host of industries, meaning that manufacturers are able to cater to requests for minute springs, right through to long wire forms.

Complying with extremely specific industry standards is of paramount importance, as one slight mistake can result in a catastrophic accident. The springs’ ability to operate at a normal capacity, whilst withstanding the harsh conditions they will be subjected to on a daily basis must be guaranteed before installation. All components that are due to be used in aeronautics undergo rigorous testing before being fully installed into an aircraft that will carry passengers.

Where Are Springs Used in Aircrafts?

To save you from scouring the aircraft in search of springs the next time you are flying, here’s a list of some of the most common places you’ll find springs on a plane:

• Seat Backs – The most commonly used spring in seatbacks on commercial airliners is the literature spring.
• Overhead Lockers – Without springs, overhead lockers would be quite dangerous. When you release the hook to open the locker, you’ll notice that the locker door releases at a slow speed; this is due to the clips and springs manufactured by companies like European Springs Ireland.
• Onboard Ovens – To withstand the extreme pressure of being 38,000 feet in the air, and being subject to high temperatures, spring brackets and spring clips used in aircraft ovens are made from high spec materials such as 17/7PH stainless steel and 316S42.
• Aircraft Doors – As one of the most important safety features on board any commercial airline, any materials which are included in this particular part of the aircraft need to be manufactured to the very highest quality possible.

With the commercial airline industry constantly striving to ensure their service is meeting customer demand, we can expect to see huge changes to the way in which we travel in the coming years. It will be interesting to see how springs play a role in the development of the aerospace industry, and the team here at European Springs Ireland will be sure to keep up-to-date with any developments within the industry.

Innovation and research have long been among Britain’s most valued areas of expertise, and there is a good reason for this. Globally, British innovation has led the way in producing some of the most up-to-date machinery and digital innovation across a range of sectors in years gone by. However, our creativity and innovation have waned somewhat over the past few years, due to Britain’s uncertain economic future post-Brexit.

In this article, we take a look at just how important innovation and research are to the British economy and how Brexit may affect the UK’s ability to be a global powerhouse in these areas in the coming years.

How Brexit Will Affect UK Innovation

In 2017, the UK dropped from being one of the top three most innovative countries in the world to fifth, according to the Global Innovation Index. While the UK’s reputation for innovation and research remains mainly intact on a global scale, things could become significantly more difficult in 2019, with Brexit looming.

With the future of the UK’s relationship with the European Union still relatively uncertain, Britain’s ability to continually push new innovative machinery and digital processes will be put under immense pressure. The UK will also rely heavily on their ability to consistently innovate in order to ensure they remain competitive throughout the coming years.

There’s no denying that UK-based businesses will need to make the absolute most out of their reputation for creative innovation within manufacturing and engineering in order to compete with foreign markets.

To combat any negative effect Brexit may have on the UK’s ability to continually innovate and thrive, the government announced an increased investment in research and development to 2.4% of gross domestic product between 2018 and 2028. The investment from the government further highlights just how important innovation and research is for both businesses and universities in the UK; it also underscores the importance of innovation in helping the UK to compete on a global stage and will help to drive the economic growth of the country for years to come.

Innovation in Manufacturing

Innovation in manufacturing and engineering has led to a number of significant breakthroughs in efficiency and productivity across several industry sectors. In the 21^st century, heavy emphasis has been placed on developing computer-based technologies like IoT and AI, rather than traditional innovation in creating new pieces of machinery.

The UK boasts a whole host of technical skills and knowledge when it comes to manufacturing, along with a vast history of innovation. The UK’s adeptness at continuing to innovate derives from harnessing employees’ technical abilities and having the capability of developing lasting and meaningful partnerships for research and development purposes. Over the years, this has led to UK-based manufacturing companies holding an improved position within the market, thanks to their ability to offer consumers new products. This in turn has helped drive demand both in the UK and globally to ensure export growth.

With manufacturing playing such a key role in the UK’s economy, it’s no surprise that the industry has remained one of the most innovative in the UK.

As spring manufacturers, the team here at European Springs Ireland understand the importance of constantly looking for innovative ways to ensure our processes are the best they can be. British innovation and research will continue to thrive in years to come – and with a 2017 survey from Barclays Brand Britain suggesting that the demand for British-made goods had increased by 36% in the past 5 years, now really is the time to push innovation and research techniques that can help our industry to continually meet a growing demand for products.