WTS London recently teamed up with STEMNET to help promote careers in the transport industry to young women. STEMNET is an independent charity working to increase young people’s choice and chances through STEM subjects.

A few of our members have already joined the scheme to become STE M ambassadors, and we hope that many more of you will soon join them. 

All you need to have is a passion to share your work, particularly in fields related to science, technology or maths. Work in the transport sector fits these criteria. You can help to challenge stereotypes regarding STEM related careers, strengthen your own communication skills, and face a challenge away from your regular day-to-day work. Plus it’s a chance to be a role model. You can learn more about this on STEMNET's website.

On the 3 July 2009, two WTS London members took part in their first event as STEM ambassadors. Katherine Trill, a project analyst for TfL, shares her experience of the day with us.

On Friday 3 July I joined 9 other women, including Sandra Meunier who also works for TfL, in attending a careers event at Preston Manor Secondary school near to Wembley.

No, not to learn about becoming a teacher (I'm not that brave), this was a career event for the year 8 girls (that's 12 - 13 years of age in old money) to show them the wide variety of job options available to women. This was set up because women's lib has not yet reached many of these girls and, at a time when they should be choosing their GCSE options based on the future, they see that future as being hairdresser, actress, or at a push, midwife.

The event involved each of us seeing 5 groups of about 10 girls in turn, starting with a game of 20 questions where they tried to guess our jobs. I wasn't actually surprised that no-one guessed mine, though it did surprise me that only one group thought to ask if I worked in the Transport sector. We then moved on to talking about what our job was about, how we ended up in the job and generally going with the flow of the questions asked by the girls. Thankfully I was the table before the firefighter which was a tough act to follow apparently. So it was surprisingly easy to fill the time in a way that engaged the majority of them.

I'm not sure how many project managers in the making I have inspired, but given their reaction to my reply on how much I earn I think I have certainly increased interest in TfL as an employer!

The event was organised by STEMNET - Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths network - a group set up to encourage today's children to continue in STEM subjects. Ambassadors like myself are given a CRB check and an induction, after which we are required to do a minimum of one event a year. However I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will probably do more.

If anyone is interested in learning more about them, their website is here: http://www.stemnet.org.uk/ambassadors/who_are_stem_ambassadors.cfm