THE aerospace industry – and the engineering jobs it creates – are an integral part of East Lancashire’s economy.

As well as the major employers like BAE and Aircelle, the sector provides thousands more jobs for suppliers.

But it would seem, as far as the technical engineering is concerned, there is a distinct lack of young people, and particularly women, to fill the next generation of jobs.

According to the Women’s Engineering Society, only six per cent of the engineering workforce in the UK is female.

It may be a male-dominated world but East Lancashire’s women, who out-perform their male counterparts in education, have excellent role models.

Last year’s UK Apprenticeship Champion of the Year was BAE’s Jenny Westworth, while fellow BAE worker Nichola Mitchell is in the final three in this year’s contest.

Yet perhaps women are still unaware of the engineering opportunities available to them.

With a university technical college on our doorsteps in Burnley, now is the perfect time for women to break down the barriers, and for all young people to earn a good wage in a highly respected career.