It’s set to be the hot topic in oil and gas this year and in spite of improvements it still remains one of the biggest challenges facing the sector: How do we attract more women into the industry?
Traditionally the oil and gas sector has been, and remains, a male dominated environment so it is perhaps no surprise that women are not as attracted to this field as other industries.
BP’s recent Global Diversity and Inclusion Report concluded that 72% felt males still dominated the workforce.
Encouragingly the report also adds that 62% of people believe the number of women in the industry globally has increased over the past 12 months.
The report also highlights the growing number of women in executive positions and today, 17% of BP’s senior managers are women.
Given these numbers it does appear that there is something changing within the industry and that positive messages are beginning to trickle through to women on a global scale.
However in the UK women account for just four percent of the total oil and gas workforce. In 2012, out of the 56,982 people that made up the core offshore workforce only 753 were women.
Whilst clearly there are encouraging signs from around the world it would appear that in the UK there is still work to be done. For HVAC & Refrigeration Engineering Ltd, a leading provider of manufacturing, design and engineering services in hazardous and harsh environment products, the solution to redressing the gender imbalance is simple: education.
Angela Thain, recently appointed projects director with the company explains: “Education is absolutely vital if we are to attract more women to the oil and gas industry, particularly in the UK where the number is still very low. There is still a perception amongst women that the industry is harsh and unfriendly and that if they select a career path in oil and gas they will be at a disadvantage.
“We need to change this perception and get the message out that the reality is very different. Indeed what many people, particularly the young, don’t realise is the wealth of opportunities available for further development, international travel and career progression as well as the variety of jobs on offer. Oil and gas doesn’t have to mean engineer. There are opportunities in HR, commercial, legal, marketing and many other avenues that support the industry.”
HVAC & Refrigeration Engineering Ltd’s managing director Raymond Davidson believes that attracting talent regardless of gender is the most important thing.
He said: “As an industry we really need to look at how we attract talented individuals. Education is a fantastic start and is absolutely crucial if we are to bring through the next generation. As an organisation we run a number of training and apprenticeship schemes that provide quality training – something that will serve the oil and gas industry for many years to come. As a company we have a good balance of female employees, including three on our board, however as a company we always look to employ the right person for the job.”
Ms Thain added: “2014 will be an important year for women and the oil and gas industry. We are beginning to see a real change within the industry and the results of many reports show that on a global scale things are improving. We need to try and replicate this in the UK and it is the responsibility of everyone within the industry to make it happen.”