Nissan U.K. Seeking Women for Engineering, Technical Careers

Nissan sets out a series of initiatives to encourage more women to consider careers in engineering and technology fields as part of a new U.K. government-backed program.

Working with educators, industry and government, Nissan says it will do more to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects to young students in the U.K., with a view to attracting the next generation of talent into the auto industry, particularly women.

The automaker says it will seek to actively influence how women and young girls perceive engineering careers and the subject choices or vocational pathways that lead to them. It will visit more than 500 schools in the next 18 months to promote STEM subjects and careers in engineering.

Nissan will ensure 15% of candidates recruited for its industrial training placements and 20% of candidates for its graduate program within its R&D function are women.

It also will sponsor five female A-level students at college in 2014 and 2015.

Nissan Technical Centre Europe Vehicle Design and Development Vice President Dave Moss says attracting the brightest and best to Nissan is vital to maintaining the quality of its workforce.

“It is also important that we help young people make informed decisions when choosing their pathways through education,” Moss says in a statement.

“Young people truly are the future of our business, and we are delighted to be making these promises that will ultimately help to open the minds of young men and young women across the U.K. to the possibility of a rewarding career in engineering.”