Reject girlie jobs, says engineer

Sarah Pullen said she loved her job as an engineer

One of Britain's top female engineers is urging women to reject "girlie" jobs and follow a less traditional path.

Sarah Pullen, who works for BAE Systems in Warton, near Preston, said it paid to have practical experience as well as studying academic subjects.

The 25-year-old was named Young Woman Engineer of the Year on Tuesday for her work on the Eurofighter aircraft.

She is one of only two women on her team at BAE and wants more to consider engineering as a career.

Few problems

"There is definitely not enough women in this industry at all - it is quite shocking how few women there are," she said.

While her peers at school were planning to be "hairdressers and things like that", Ms Pullen said she knew she wanted to go into engineering.

"There is an immense satisfaction of working in this environment that I don't think you would get working in girlie jobs. It's a brilliant job.

"I haven't had any problems, except from a few older men who obviously don't think a woman should be an engineer.

"I believe apprenticeships should be encouraged more at school, particularly for girls, because it pays to have hands-on experience of a subject as well as academic education.

"Most girls are pushed into certain careers - girlie jobs."

Ms Pullen was nominated for the award, sponsored by the Institution of Incorporated Engineers, by her section leader Bob Edwards.