Gemma Westlake shares her experiences in the automotive industry and her work promoting women in STEM.
She taught for 13 years at Basingstoke College. There, she helped students start their own careers. Now, she works at Thatcham Research, where her role focuses on academy training curriculum development.
Gemma reflects on the importance of female role models, especially early in STEM careers. She felt lucky to have great female colleagues and wanted to support other women entering the field.
Teaching allowed her to mentor others, and she feels very proud of helping women learn about engineering opportunities. FE teaching helps women become role models for the next STEM generation.
Plan Industry UK did some research, finding that 39% of women felt unsure and worried about being taken seriously in STEM fields. Therefore, Gemma thinks female role models are essential to encourage women and girls in STEM careers, including engineering, automotive, and electronics fields.