IMechE backs First Women Awards
Institution urges members to put forward nominations
- Published in Web extra.
Recognising pioneering women
Paula Bell (right) from Ricardo was a worthy winner in 2009
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has become a supporter of the First Women Awards, which recognise pioneering women across UK industry, who have also actively created opportunities for other women to follow in their footsteps.
The awards, created by business organisation the CBI and enterprise magazine Real Business, will culminate in a prestigious ceremony at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London on 30 June.
The IMechE has agreed to sponsor the manufacturing award, which will be presented by chief executive Stephen Tetlow.
Notable former winners of First Women Awards include Rosalind Murray, operations manager at BAE Systems’ Submarines Solutions division, who won the First Woman of Manufacturing award in 2008; and Helen Barrett, also from BAE, who was recognised in 2009 having worked her way up to become construction capability manager responsible for £100m-plus budgets and more than 1,500 employees.
Paula Bell, finance director at engineering group Ricardo, was a winner in 2009. Bell was the youngest ever director at Rolls-Royce (aged 26); first female director of Anglian Water; and the first woman to be appointed director at Ricardo.
The IMechE is encouraging members to put forward nominations for the awards, held in association with Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets. The awards website is at www.firstwomenawards.co.uk or members can contact Alexis Wilmott for details at alexis.wilmott@caspianmedia.com or on 0207 045 7500.
The nominations deadline is 15 April.