Twenty eight leading employers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) sector in Northern Ireland have signed up to a new STEM Charter to demonstrate their commitment to improving gender balance in their business.

The STEM Charter, which is a first for Northern Ireland, was launched in June 2014 at an event organised by the STEM business group and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. The organisations which have committed themselves to the charter are Allstate NI, Atkins, Asidua, Belfast Metropolitan College, Bombardier Aerospace, CIDO, CITB Construction Skills NI, Diamond Recruitment, Engineering Training Council (NI), Intel Corporation (UK) Ltd, Liberty IT, Magellan Aerospace (Greyabbey) Ltd, McAvoy Group, Corry Group Ltd, Michelin Tyre PLC, Moy Park, NIE, Northern Regional College, Open University, PATHXL, Queen’s University Belfast, Schrader Electronics, Seagate, Sci-Geist, Sentinus, Terex GB Ltd, Ulster Bank, University of Ulster, Women’s Resource & Development Agency.

Evelyn Collins CBE, Chief Executive of the Equality Commission, said:

“The Equality Commission is delighted to be working with DEL and the STEM business group in the development of the STEM Charter and I congratulate the employers who are the first to place on record their commitment to taking the necessary steps to recruit and retain more women in their workplace.

“The current under-representation of women in scientific and technical jobs is not simply a gender equality issue; it is a broader economic issue that has huge consequences for our future prosperity and growth.

“Northern Ireland businesses are already reporting difficulties in recruiting and retaining enough staff with the required level of experience and skills; and in high level STEM posts men outnumber women by more than three to one.

“One possible solution is to target those girls and women who are not presently considering STEM careers.”

Speaking at the launch, Derek Baker, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Employment and Learning said:

“Addressing gender bias in STEM was identified as an issue in the STEM Strategy, ‘Success through STEM’. My Department has played a leading role in the production and implementation of the Strategy.

“I commend the leadership example demonstrated by the participating STEM businesses today. By working in partnership to develop the STEM CEO Charter and in signing the Charter today, you, our business leaders, will be giving a strong public message to demonstrate your commitment to supporting gender diversity and equality, to increase the participation and progression of women in STEM.”

Gordon Parkes from NIE, one of the initial signatories to the STEM Charter, told delegates that they must take opportunities to tackle unconscious bias in their promotion of careers to girls and women. He said:

“the under-representation of women in areas such as engineering and technology isn’t just an individual company problem but a cultural one. Parents and other influencers needed to recognise STEM careers as an attractive option.”

Lisa O’Neill, a graduate engineer with NIE, outlined some of the simple measures employers and training providers need to take to attract more girls and women to STEM careers. She said there is still an image problem and a common perception that engineering is not a suitable career for females. Companies must promote their female employees as role models for young girls to ensure that they realise that working in a STEM job is something they can do.

STEM Employer Equality Network

Working in partnership, the STEM Business group and the Equality Commission have established a new network to support employers to address gender balance. The STEM Employer Equality Network (SEEN) aims to promote and share good practice and help employers understand the lawful positive action they can take to address gender imbalance in STEM.

During the first meeting in September, members looked at benchmarking their current practice against the 22 Good Practice Guidelines from the Addressing Gender Balance- Reaping the Gender Dividend in STEM report. Further meetings will look at mentoring, networking and unconscious bias.

Interested employers should contact Lorna McAlpine, the STEM Business Co-ordinator at, lorna.mcalpine@stembusinessgroupni.com or Donna Heaney at the Equality Commission, telephone 028 90 500 600.