Engineer Dr Carol Marsh received an OBE in the Queen’s 2020 birthday honours for services to diversity and inclusion, and is using the platform to further encourage girls and women across the UK to consider engineering careers.

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“Engineering isn’t just a job, it is a vocation,” said Marsh. “When you’re an engineer, you’re thinking about it all the time. If girls want to be independent, it is one of the best careers you can choose, because you get to do work that is really exciting, you look forward to coming into work every day.”

And the draw need not simply be job satisfaction.

According to Marsh, many students, parents and teachers do not realise that engineering roles are amongst the best paid jobs in the UK. “You get paid good money, so you can be truly independent both personally and professionally.”

Her day job is deputy head of electronics engineering at aerospace engineering company Leonardo, and past roles have include president of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and chair of IET Scotland.

She launched WES’ ‘Female engineering student conferences’ across the UK to link female students with female engineering role models, and also created WES’ ‘Primary girls intro to engineering’ events. “This annual event is now a mainstay of Leonardo’s annual STEM calendar,” according to Leonardo.

WES curates a female role model resource for UK STEM ambassadors, parents and teachers.

“Amy Johnson is possibly the most famous WES member, acting as WES president from 1933-1934 and renowned for her adventures as a pilot,” according to Leonardo. “She qualified as an engineer and worked to encourage and inspire other women to join the industry and become qualified.”

Marsh also lists: radar electronics engineer Betty Laverick, electrical engineer Margaret Mary Patridge and marine engineer Victoria Drummond.

He inclusiveness work extends beyond simply encouraging women. “She believes that the whole industry can benefit from engaging a richer diversity of individuals from different backgrounds, who can offer a wealth of perspectives that ultimately enhance innovation,” said Leonard.

And the OBE?

“When I received the email, I couldn’t believe it and all I wanted to do was shout it out and tell my family, but of course you can’t and it’s been so hard keeping it a secret,” said Marsh. “I want to thank everyone who nominated me and what I do would not be possible without the support of my family, the company I work for and the organisations I have been involved with including the Women’s Engineering Society and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.”