Girls Interest in Engineering Soars after BAE Systems Visit

Holly in the cockpit of the Typhoon Euro-Fighter

From left to right: Carole Cross, BAE; Holly's mum, Kay Lees, Katie's mum and Stephanie Anforth. Front row: Holly and Katie

Katie enjoys the VIP visit to BAE Systems

Two girls from the Macclesfield College 'Engineering - Girls Can Do It Too' project recently took a VIP trip to the BAE Systems site in Warton, Lancashire.

Katie and Holly, both of Dean Valley Primary School, were accompanied by their mums, as they experienced a day of learning and adventure in recognition of their enthusiasm, teamwork and attendance at organised engineering events over the last 12 months.

The day began with a question and answer session led by Stephanie Anforth, BAE Systems Educational Partnership Manager, the girls were amazed to discover that the Warton site is home to over 7,000 employees and the airstrip could, in an emergency, land a jumbo jet.

After refreshments the girls received instructions from two Systems Engineers on how to use the Typhoon flight simulator. Despite the aeroplane crashing into the sea several times on its journey from Warton to Blackpool Tower the girls did really well!

During the visit Katie and Holly met a pilot who test flies aircraft before they leave Warton and toured round the Typhoon Euro-Fighter final assembly hanger where they saw the magnificence of the aircraft from the cockpit.

The girls rounded off their trip with a visit to Blackpool where they experienced the "Walk of Faith" over a clear glass panel at the top of the Blackpool Tower, waltzed in the famous ball room, ate fish 'n' chips, marvelled at the bright lights on the prom and saw amazing acts at Mooky's Circus of Dreams.

Kay Lees, Programme Manager, said: "This was such a wonderful and informative day. Both the girls and their parents saw the excitement of aerospace engineering first-hand and how clean the working environment is. I imagine this trip will be something they remember for the rest of their lives".

The 'Engineering - Girls Can Do It Too' project run by Macclesfield College aims to encourage more women to get involved in engineering. For more information see the other news stories posted on this website.

18/11/2009