Tickets are available to help the Women in Nuclear (WiN) Cumbria group to mark one year since its launch with a ‘first birthday bash’.
The event will take place on International Women’s Day (8 March) at the Energus centre, Lillyhall.
It will gather businesses and individuals from across Cumbria to celebrate the achievements of the branch, and discuss what still needs to be done to progress gender balance in the nuclear sector.
Speakers including chartered psychologist and gender equality expert, Nadia Nagamootoo, Paul Howarth from the National Nuclear Laboratory and Rebecca Weston from Sellafield Ltd.
Tickets are priced at £35. To book a place or apply for a free ‘Golden ticket’ please contact WiN Cumbria at [email protected].
Since its launch, the network has become a powerful community of local organisations and individuals working together to achieve gender diversity within the Cumbrian workforce.
Trudy Harrison MP has also backed WiN Cumbria as a key player in helping achieve the one of the ambitions laid out in the Nuclear Sector Deal, to see 40 per cent more females working in the industry by 2030.
Chair of the WiN Cumbria, Claire Gallery-Strong, said: “We are using our first anniversary as an important opportunity to reflect on what our small but formidable team of volunteers, and incredible community of members, has achieved so far.
“From building an influential community of businesses, individuals and advocates, providing training and mentoring, leading campaigns across the county to enhance visibility of role models, helping host the iconic suffrage flag and supporting the community when in need – WiN Cumbria has become an integral part of Cumbrian industry.
“We have also helped position Cumbria as a key player within the Northern Power Women community, and are delighted to shortlisted for an award at their annual ceremony.
“We look forward to continuing our mission to create an inclusive and fair environment that helps attract, retain and build a diverse workforce of the future, for Cumbria and the UK.
“I urge anyone, male or female, with an interest in helping to drive gender balance in the area, to join us on 8th March for what will be a memorable day of celebration.”
Recognising the unique contribution that the Cumbria makes to the nuclear sector, ‘Women in Nuclear (WiN) UK’ launched the dedicated ‘Cumbria’ branch in 2018.
Cumbria is home to a skilled nuclear workforce of 27,000 people, and was one of the first places to establish a WiN regional team because of its strong nuclear links, with decommissioning at Sellafield, the building of submarines by BAE Systems, the National Nuclear Laboratory, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Low Level Waste Repository.
The WiN Cumbria team (made up of volunteers) is carrying out the objectives of WIN UK on a local basis, engaging with Cumbria businesses and supporting career progression through mentoring and networking. It also aims to attract younger women into the nuclear industry through engagement with local schools and universities.
It is the mission of WiN Cumbria to create an inclusive and fair environment that helps attract, retain and build a diverse workforce of the future, for Cumbria and the UK.
Currently only 22% of the UK’s nuclear industry is female, and this number declines significantly at senior levels, statistics that WiN UK is working to change. There is strong evidence to suggest that an inclusive environment, with diverse teams, leads to better performance.
