OAS partners with Women in Nuclear to increase Equality Diversity & Inclusion in apprenticeships

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Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) are delighted to announce we have formed a collaborative partnership with Women in Nuclear UK (WiN UK) as part of our commitment to promoting gender diversity within the STEM sector.

OAS launched its new focus on Equality Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) in September 2020, with the aim of improving inclusive access to engineering apprenticeships both within and beyond the OAS training centre. Our collaborative partnership with WiN UK will help to increase OAS’s reach and impact, whilst also supporting WiN UK’s objective to encourage girls and women into the nuclear industry.

Together, OAS and WiN UK aim to collaborate on an outreach programme across local schools, providing activities and resources to encourage inclusive and hands-on engagement with STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths). Additionally, WiN UK are providing information, advice and guidance in support of OAS’s work to assist our employer partners to create more neutral and fair environments in order to attract more women into STEM. We’re also working together through key events during the ED&I calendar to increase our reach and impact, having collaborated earlier this year to showcase role models within STEM from the LGBT+ community as part of LGBT+ History Month.

Operations Manager, Emma Johnstone, said: “Working alongside WiN UK is a brilliant opportunity for OAS. This collaborative partnership aligns perfectly with our targeted efforts to improve female representation within STEM and the apprentice population we have here at OAS.”

WiN Central England Comms Lead, Dr Elina Militello Asp, emphasised the importance of the collaboration with OAS: “Through societal norms and gender stereotypes, children as young as 5-7 years old have already decided what careers are open to them. WiN UK are delighted to tackle this barrier with OAS through joint STEM outreach and providing role models so that all youngsters can feel empowered to pursue their dream career and develop their strengths.”

WiN UK is one of over 30 international chapters under the umbrella of Women in Nuclear Global. Formed in 2014, WiN UK’s mission is to address the industry’s gender balance, improve the representation of women in leadership, engage with the industry, government and public on nuclear issues and support the industry with tools and information. You can find out more about their work here.