As part of our commitment to Advancing Knowledge & Improving Lives, Land Rover is partnering with Women Into Science & Engineering (WISE) on a new scholarship programme. The initiative is designed to help more women pursue careers in engineering, and was unveiled by Zara Phillips at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Ms Phillips paid tribute to her mother, WISE patron Princess Anne; as well as The Queen, who had worked as a mechanical engineer in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II.
It is hoped that the Range Rover Evoque WISE scholarship will encourage more women to follow in their footsteps. Currently, only 13% of the UK’s engineering workforce is female. The scholarship will award grants of £9,000 to three female students over three years. The winners will also enjoy mentoring support from senior Land Rover engineers and the WISE team.
This investment comes at a time when the British economy is supporting investment in new talent. According to a report by EngineeringUK, by 2020 the country will need twice as many graduates and three times as many apprentices in engineering to meet industry needs.
The initiative is just the latest example of Land Rover promoting diversity in the workplace, as the company already offers specialised training schemes to support ambitious female engineers.
Under the new scheme, any woman who has a place on a higher education engineering course, or has arranged an engineering‑based apprenticeship, can apply for the Range Rover Evoque WISE scholarship. Full details can be found at inspiringtomorrowsengineers.com