04 March 2021
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From challenge comes change
MNP are supporting #choosetochallenge on International Women's Day
Gender parity is about more than equal pay, it’s a crucial cultural shift that must happen in every aspect of society. Each of us is responsible for contributing towards this in our personal lives but MNP feels strongly about challenging our industry. Simply, our industry must ask “what can we do to positively enact change?” and “how can we hold ourselves accountable?”. As an absolute minimum, we guarantee 100% pay equality.
Just 12.37% of all engineers are women in the UK. At MNP we are dedicated to changing this statistic, not only though employing women and creating an inclusive workspace but through encouraging girls to pursue a career in STEM. MNP are STEM Ambassadors and regularly attend enterprise days to encourage engineering as a career choice. We need to be opening doors for girls and give them the same encouragement and opportunities as boys.
At MNP, we acknowledge that the engineering industry is seeing a rapid change in many areas and matters. For example, the climate emergency is gaining real traction. We are similarly committed to gender parity. We want to see more women in engineering and holding senior positions. The effectiveness of our offices and projects are positively influenced when this balance is maintained.
Instead of speaking on behalf of women, we are going to elevate the voices of young women in our industry. So, we would like to introduce Lucy Griffiths, Graduate Engineer at MNP.
When you were a child, what did you dream you’d be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an astrophysicist when I was younger. I was fascinated by outer space. I thought it was so beautiful and I was intrigued by the physics behind it. It’s amazing how much of the universe scientists have discovered, and how much is still undiscovered.
What or who inspired you to become an engineer?
I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in mathematics, I just didn’t know which route to take. It was my father that introduced me to engineering, and after our first talk, I knew it was the path for me.
Did you have any role models when you were younger?
My family have always been my role models. I am immensely proud of my family for reaching and surpassing their goals in their different careers. They have constantly shown dedication and hard work. This fuels my determination to follow in their footsteps and to constantly challenge myself and achieve higher.
What is the biggest impact your work will, or could, have in the future?
Engineers are conducting a lot of research on how to reduce the effect the construction industry has on climate change. This includes changes in energy production, improving the structure energy efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gases. This research is key in tackling climate change and I believe the research will result in new techniques that will benefit our planet greatly.
What do you love about being an engineer?
It gives me a lot of joy and accomplishment to help supply the population with safe and secure structures to live, work and play in. I also really enjoy solving mathematical puzzles and being an engineer means I get to do this daily.
What excites you most about STEM?
Technology is advancing very rapidly, we need to jump on board and not be left behind. STEM holds the fundamental knowledge of life, and this is so important.
What’s the most unexpected thing about your job?
The most unexpected part of my job was the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the need to adapt and move into my own home office.
Your advice to a young female person considering a career in STEM?
If you want to pursue a career in STEM do it! It is so important to follow your heart and your passion and to pursue a career that you enjoy and brings you happiness. STEM careers are typically male-dominated but the number of females working in STEM is steadily increasing. It is so wonderful to see this number increasing year after year. It is so important for females to break the stigma of male-dominated roles and careers.
