INSPIRING activities such as robot wars, biscuit bridges and navigating a spacecraft have inspired the next generation of female engineers at the Women in Engineering event at Wiltshire College’s Chippenham campus.

More than 270 Year 10 pupils from across Wiltshire, Bristol and Dorset took part in the event showcasing the wealth of careers in engineering.

The event, now in its second year, was hosted by the college to educate and inspire teenage girls to consider a career in engineering, and raise awareness of the varied range of careers in the industry.

Pupils were able to meet and talk to professionals within engineering including Zircon, Airbus, Avon Rubber plc, the Army and RAF, Society of Cosmetic Scientists, and UWE, Bournemouth and Southampton universities.

The College’s IT, agriculture and engineering departments were also talking to students and showcasing the range of full-time courses and apprenticeships available.

Wiltshire College principal Amanda Burnside said: “We were delighted to welcome double the number of students to this year’s Women in Engineering and it was fantastic to see schools travel from as far as Dorset, as well as those more local to us.

“There is a real shortage of skilled engineers across the whole of the UK, but particularly too few females go into engineering and so we need to make young people aware of the incredible careers within that industry open to them now so that they can plan for their futures.”