From designing renewable energy systems to reimagining sustainable transport, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is at the heart of the net zero transition. As the 2030 target nears, jobs in these fields are more critical than ever. Yet, the UK faces a critical challenge. The Climate Change Committee estimates the net zero transition will create between 135,000 and 725,000 new jobs in low-carbon sectors, but there is a glaring shortage of workers with the appropriate skills needed to drive the transition.
Women account for just 26% of the UK’s STEM workforce. When looking at engineering specifically, this decreases to just 15.7%, and the situation has worsened from 2022 when it was 16.5%. This a huge disparity that we must address to close this skills gap. But this isn’t just a numbers game. Women bring unique ideas, skills and approaches that are vital to solving the complex challenge of reaching net zero.
Uptake also remains low for subjects that could progress into engineering or technology where the majority of growth is projected to be e.g. physics, maths or computer science. Moreover, Engineering UK’s Science Eductaion Tracker has identified a declining interest in science generally, and the opening up of a gender gap. This is reflected in the STEM workforce and the leaky pipeline from school to university to the world of work, where women step out from a STEM pathway at every stage along the way. If we’re serious about combatting climate change, we must also get serious about closing this gap. With 80% of young women worried about the climate crisis (ONS, 2021), how can we translate this into the careers that they pursue?
This was the question we explored in our recent roundtable. Leaders from across STEM, education and clean energy sectors came together to discuss this pressing topic:
• Nicola Johnson – Chief Financial Officer at Pulse Clean Energy
• Maddie Dinwoodie – Director of Engagement Programmes at Engineering UK
• Séverine Trouillet – Chief Executive Officer at STEM Learning
• Dr Rebecca Heaton – Senior Advisor at Robertsbridge
• Dr Afsheen Rashid MBE- Chief Executive Officer at Repowering London
• Dr Rebecca Montacute – Head of Research and Policy at The Sutton Trust
• Nintse Dan-Thé – Senior Systems Engineer at Northop Grumman UK, WISE Young Professionals Board
• Katie Alexander – Press Officer at Energy UK
Timed alongside the conclusion of COP29 in Azerbaijan and ahead of the publication of the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, the discussion highlighted why the involvement of young people and women in net zero economies has never been more urgent. Here are the key takeaways from the conversation.
KEY TAKEAWAY 1 – Changing perceptions
The lack of women in STEM and green jobs isn’t just a pipeline issue, it’s a perception issue. Career opportunities in STEM and the energy transition aren’t being effectively communicated to meet women’s aspirations. This is partly due to the sector moving at such a quick pace that we can’t predict what new jobs are going to be created each year and therefore presented as career options to girls at school. But there are also persisting perceptions that relegate STEM careers to being inaccessible, overly technical or even boring. We need to shift the narrative: STEM careers can be exciting, challenging and hugely impactful.
Engineering UK found that young people who understand that engineers are important for improving the environment are almost 7 times more likely to be interested in a career that involves engineering. By highlighting how STEM can solve one of the most pressing issues of our time – one which can disproportionately affect women – we can make the field more relevant and engaging.
As speaker Afsheen Rashid MBE from Repowering London commented, “We have all the technical products to get to net zero, but we do not have the people—people are the missing piece. The future of green jobs—and, by extension, the future of our planet—depends on encouraging and equipping the next generation of female leaders in STEM. It’s imperative that we ensure that these careers are not only accessible but aspirational for everyone.”
KEY TAKEAWAY 2 – Reimagining the curriculum
To inspire more girls to pursue green careers, we need to reimagine how STEM is taught. The current curriculum needs to do more to connect classroom learning with real-world, tangible career paths. We need to reform what is taught in STEM subjects at school, so that all students are both better aware of what is required and better prepared for a career in STEM.
At present, with the teaching shortages in the UK, teachers often end up covering classes that aren’t their specialism, leading to gaps in education. This too must be addressed if we’re to educate the next generation of engineers and energy industry professionals.
By adopting a more dynamic approach to teaching these subjects, we can inspire and empower girls to pursue these fields with confidence. Be it through career storytelling, videos and podcasts, or accessible role models, we can create a curriculum and culture where girls are encouraged to pursue these opportunities early on. Dedicating more time to practical application of their learning will also help.
KEY TAKEAWAY 3 – Improving accessibility
Accessibility remains a huge challenge. Frustratingly, many degree-level apprenticeships are elitist, excluding underrepresented groups such as women from low socio-economic backgrounds. We need to see these pathways be democratised and open up opportunities for women from a diverse range of backgrounds.
There also needs to be greater understanding that a career in net zero and STEM can be financially rewarding, and therefore a viable means for improving social mobility. Without understanding of what a career in these ‘new’ industries entails, it becomes harder to recruit candidates from less financially stable backgrounds.
For the net zero transition to be successful, the industry needs to include perspectives from all sides of society, otherwise we risk excluding those who are bearing the brunt of the impact of climate change.
As Dr Becky Montacute from The Sutton Trust commented, “It’s people from low-income backgrounds who will feel the greatest impacts of this transition – whether we get it right or wrong. You need women in this space, but we cannot just focus on a certain type of woman.”
KEY TAKEAWAY 4 – Addressing all stages of the pipeline
We must also look beyond how we nurture young talent into STEM fields, to how to target those already working. With 2030 net zero targets fast approaching, we need immediate action to plug the gaps.
This means targeting career changers. Recent research suggests 27% of workers plan to change jobs in the next six months – many could transition into net zero roles with the right training and support. We need to look at attracting women and talent from other industries where there are redundancies or low growth and highlighting the vast benefits that net zero roles bring. As a growing, innovative industry, the clean energy sector can offer the flexibility, culture and bold policies that many more traditional sectors cannot.
KEY TAKEAWAY 5 – Industry coordination and collaboration
The net zero sector involves a significant number of start-ups and growing businesses who want to see their talent diversified. However, these corporations often don’t have the resources – financial, human, or time-based – to be highly proactive in helping address this challenge. Better-established and resource-rich industries such as law, finance, and manufacturing will be able to dedicate more efforts into schooling programmes, graduate advertising, and eventual graduate scheme funding & wages. If net zero related industries want to compete with these companies to attract young talent, they may need to collaborate with more established conduit organisations.
STEM learning and Engineering UK are examples of the types of network-building and employment focused organisations that net zero employers can seek further collaboration with. These organisations are experienced in youth engagement at a variety of levels and can provide valuable research to guide outreach and hiring efforts. As we work towards net zero, we need to work better together, drive collective action and utilise these resources to attract and retain the skilled workforce that’s required.
Dr Afsheen Rashid from Repowering London described how, “We [Net zero companies] are flying the plane whilst building it. If we are to compete with more mature industries, collaboration and coordination with existing industry bodies is absolutely essential.”
SUMMING IT UP
Addressing the climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and one that simply cannot be achieved without the full participation of women and girls. From classrooms to boardrooms, we must dismantle barriers, reimagine STEM career paths, and collaborate across sectors to help women drive forward a sustainable future.
A cross-sector communications campaign can play a pivotal role in addressing these issues by fostering awareness, encouraging action, and driving systemic change. By uniting educators, businesses, policymakers, such a campaign can amplify the importance of women’s participation and leadership in climate solutions and STEM fields.
By empowering women in STEM, we don’t just close the gender gap – we open the door to groundbreaking innovations, a stronger workforce and faster progress to a green future.