Girls try hand as engineers at event to encourage skills

The project, funded by the European Social Fund World Skills Have a Go initiative, offered girls the opportunity to participate in practical activities from welding to motor vehicle maintenance.

The college received £2,600 of funding and said it had teamed up with local schools to encourage girls to participate in this predominantly male dominated subject in order to help the future of engineering and science sectors.

Event organiser Sharon Hellewell said: “Businesses are looking to recruit the best engineers regardless of gender and more and more girls are being attracted into this exciting field of work.

“It was a great opportunity for our local schoolgirls to look at all of their options and try something new.”

Barnsley College applied for funding to run the events under the World Skills initiative, run by the European Social Fund which was set up to improve employment opportunities in the European Union and so help raise standards of living.

It aims to help people fulfil their potential by giving them better skills and better job prospects.

The national campaign followed the World Skills London show held in the capital last autumn, which aimed to showcase British engineering advancements and talent.

Have a Go events were organised across the country with some aimed at young people and others at adults considering new career opportunities.