UK needs women to pick and stick to STEM careers

The UK economy will fail to grow unless the country can find 50,000 women a year to work in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related jobs, according to WISE, the campaign to promote women in science and engineering.

At the annual WISE conference in London on 10 November attendees are due to hear that British companies are facing a massive STEM skills shortage of 69,000 recruits a year.

Research by WISE found that in the year to August 2016, there were 70,573 men and 20,337 women enrolled in higher education, higher apprenticeships and level 4 vocational qualifications involving STEM subjects.