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NETWORK / 13 / JULY/AUGUST 2016 ing the highest levels of the energy industry, saying this would "improve future decision- making, bring fresh perspec- tives, enhance stakeholder trust and strengthen the UK energy industry in the long term". Kate Davies, chief operating officer of Energy & Utility Skills, says most employers in the network sector do take inclusion seriously and acknowledge the benefits of a diverse workforce, including promoting a positive internal culture, external corporate social responsibility and branding, and addressing the sector's skills gap. She says companies want to represent the communities they work in and build a sustainable long- term workforce. The skills shortage is certainly one of the most pressing reasons to address the gender imbalance. Research by EU Skills shows 36% of vacancies are hard to fill in energy and utilities – higher than any other sector in the UK. There has been some success. A sector-level careers lab sponsored by National Grid, for example, has enabled employers to go into schools and help young women to understand career pathways and opportunities in the sector. But despite these efforts, the gap remains and the consensus is that the problem starts at an early stage. Davies says the problem of senior development is "exacerbated by the lack of female entrants into the sector, so we've got a smaller proportion of talent to work with". She notes that women and girls are lost to science and engineering at every stage – GCSE, A levels, university, and then in the world of work itself. "It's not a capability thing, it's them linking what they can do to the different career options. It's giving them the opportunities and linking them to employers." Davies believes initiatives to promote science, technology engineering and maths in schools and tackle negative external continued p14 Role models Lynne McDonald is a programme manager at UK Power Networks who was named Engineer of the Year at the Women in Construction Awards 2016. Her role is to lead and deliver innovations to advance the way the company manages its distribution equipment. McDonald says: "I work with colleagues to understand the root causes of asset failures so my innovative problem-solving team and suppliers can design practical solutions. Crucially, our trials focus on sample groups which can be replicated cost-effectively at scale. "I'm proud to lead a team of tenacious innovation engineers who are focused on improving our performance safely and cost-efficiently. Keeping an open mind, we invite ideas, then rigorously pursue those with most potential to deliver customer benefits. Clear KPIs are set and I oversee delivery at each stage of the project. Every day brings a new and exciting challenge in this fast-changing industry." Lynne adds: "There's still a shortage of women working in my sector, so I take any responsibility as a role model very seriously and support careers and school events. I enjoy debunking myths and stereotypes about engineering, by highlighting the variety and impact of the roles available. "I like to give women an insight into the highlights of my career journey, and offer guidance on how to climb the career ladder. My aim is to share my passion and enthusiasm for engineering and the industry, with the hope it inspires others to pursue careers in this area." Faye Banks is an electrical transmission and asset manager for National Grid. She heads up team of more than 100 in the North East and in 2013 became the youngest ever fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Banks' story is an inspirational one. She now considers herself to be in her dream job – but the road to it was rough. Now a mother of two with a happy home life, Banks's childhood was far from pleasant. She grew up in local authority care and left school with no qualifications aged 16. Desperate to get off benefits, Banks began working in a local plastics factory – it was the beginning of a change in her fortunes, for it was here she fell in love with the idea of becoming an engineer. After being told she didn't have the right qualifications to train as an apprentice, Faye returned to Wakefield College and combined 12-hour shifts with redoing her studies. The following year she re-sat her GCSEs and gained 10 As – more than enough to take on her apprenticeship. While training, Faye worked three jobs to make ends meet, but she said this difficult start was worth it to help her kick off her dream career. In 2004, she was named Young Woman Engineer of the Year by the IET. "It is hugely important to talk to youngsters about careers in engineering and the range of opportunities on offer," says Faye. "Engineering is still often thought of as a male profession and I am hoping to help change this perception. It has been a life-changing experience for me and I am living proof that this can be a great career for women."