Women in Technology event at Colchester Institute helps girls get tech jobs

The college held its first Women in Technology event for Year 10 and 11 pupils at schools across north Essex.

A previous construction day helped youngsters try out plumbing, electrics and bricklaying.

These options were expanded to take in a host of other courses.

After the pupils had their lessons, the public were invited in to see what they had been doing.

Steve Dale, head of the centre for construction at the college, said: “Female students are often pushed into different directions without first giving them the opportunity to discover what’s out there.”

Jamie-Lee Murkin, 21, is the perfect example of this. She started out doing a course in nail technology and beauty, and is now the only woman studying for level 2 motorcycle mechanics at Braintree College, run by Colchester Institute.

She said: “I took the beauty and nail technology course because I thought that was what girls were supposed to do.

“I finished it but I did not like it, and I then thought about what I could do.

“I have always loved bikes and was always watching biking programmes, and I just wanted to go for it.

“There were three girls doing it when I first started, but I was the only one to get through level 1 and move on to level 2.

“By that time, I had made friends with all the others on the course and that made it easier.

“I would have found it tough if I had started as the only girl, and so I am glad to get the chance to get more women involved.”

Colchester Academy pupil Jessica Tower, 15, of Chase Court in Greenstead, was getting to grips with one of the motorcycle challenges with the help of Jamie-Lee.

She said: “My brother works for Porsche and my dad has a motorbike, so I think it is in my genes.

“I don’t see why I couldn’t do it as a career, and I am really pleased to know I could do the course like anyone else.”

Pupils from Colchester County High School for Girls and St Helena School were also invited to the event.

Information and hands-on demonstrations of technical theatre lighting, vehicle body repair and painting, welding and bricklaying were all on offer.

The message at the day was that women can be just as capable at any of the professions on offer, as long as they were willing to put the effort in.

Jake Reed, lecturer in vehicle body repair, said the recession had hit the practical professions hard, but he added: “There are the opportunities but they are only taking on the best, so anyone taking it on has to work hard.”for Year 10 and 11 pupils at schools across north Essex.

A previous construction day helped youngsters try out plumbing, electrics and bricklaying.

These options were expanded to take in a host of other courses.

After the pupils had their lessons, the public were invited in to see what they had been doing.

Steve Dale, head of the centre for construction at the college, said: “Female students are often pushed into different directions without first giving them the opportunity to discover what’s out there.”

Jamie-Lee Murkin, 21, is the perfect example of this. She started out doing a course in nail technology and beauty, and is now the only woman studying for level 2 motorcycle mechanics at Braintree College, run by Colchester Institute.

She said: “I took the beauty and nail technology course because I thought that was what girls were supposed to do.

“I finished it but I did not like it, and I then thought about what I could do.

“I have always loved bikes and was always watching biking programmes, and I just wanted to go for it.

“There were three girls doing it when I first started, but I was the only one to get through level 1 and move on to level 2.

“By that time, I had made friends with all the others on the course and that made it easier.

“I would have found it tough if I had started as the only girl, and so I am glad to get the chance to get more women involved.”

Colchester Academy pupil Jessica Tower, 15, of Chase Court in Greenstead, was getting to grips with one of the motorcycle challenges with the help of Jamie-Lee.

She said: “My brother works for Porsche and my dad has a motorbike, so I think it is in my genes.

“I don’t see why I couldn’t do it as a career, and I am really pleased to know I could do the course like anyone else.”

Pupils from Colchester County High School for Girls and St Helena School were also invited to the event.

Information and hands-on demonstrations of technical theatre lighting, vehicle body repair and painting, welding and bricklaying were all on offer.

The message at the day was that women can be just as capable at any of the professions on offer, as long as they were willing to put the effort in.

Jake Reed, lecturer in vehicle body repair, said the recession had hit the practical professions hard, but he added: “There are the opportunities but they are only taking on the best, so anyone taking it on has to work hard.”