Spencer Group Boosts Women Representation with New Apprenticeship Intake
Spencer Group has strengthened its commitment to gender diversity in engineering by welcoming nine new apprentices, including four young women. This intake marks a significant milestone, with women representing 44% of the cohort—more than twice the national average for the sector.
The new recruits comprise seven civil engineering degree apprentices, one commercial apprentice, and one Level 3 business administration apprentice who will join Layer8, Spencer Group’s sister company specialising in IT solutions.
Industry data from Engineering UK reveals that only 20% of young people starting apprenticeships in engineering and technology are female. Spencer Group has seen a remarkable increase in female applicants, rising from 2.6% in 2019 to 27% currently.
Based in Hull, Spencer Group actively fosters an inclusive environment where women are supported and treated equally. The company collaborates closely with educational institutions such as Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC), an employer-led school in Hull, to encourage young women to pursue engineering careers. Female leaders and apprentices from Spencer Group regularly conduct workshops and career talks at Ron Dearing UTC, aiming to dismantle barriers that often deter women from entering the field.
To further support its female workforce, Spencer Group has established a Women’s Forum. This platform provides a safe space for women to share experiences, highlight areas for improvement, and contribute to shaping a more inclusive workplace.
Among the new apprentices is Lucie Metcalfe, a civil engineering degree apprentice who joined after completing her A-Levels and technical qualifications at Ron Dearing UTC. Lucie praised the company’s personalised recruitment process, saying: “The team rang me at each stage of the process, then invited me for an interview, so it felt more personal than with other companies and showed me that they really care about their employees.”
She added: “I also really like that Spencer Group allows apprentices to rotate around the different departments in the business. I think I’d like to go into design, but I also know that there are probably roles and teams which I’ve not even heard about, so I’m really open-minded and looking forward to learning about all the different opportunities there are in the industry.”
Lucie highlighted the buddy system, where new apprentices are paired with experienced ones. “My buddy is also a female, so it’s really nice to have someone to go to with any questions who has recently been in my position,” she said.
Grace Campbell, a commercial apprentice, joined Spencer Group after studying A-Levels at South Hunsley School and Sixth Form in Melton, East Yorkshire. She explained her decision to enter the workforce directly: “I knew I wanted to go straight into the workplace after Sixth Form. The cost of university really put me off, so being able to work while continuing to learn seemed like the best of both worlds.”
Grace also completed work experience at Spencer Group during Sixth Form and found the environment welcoming and inclusive. “Everyone was so nice and it seemed like such a welcoming and inclusive workplace, so I knew I wanted to apply for a job there in future,” she said.
Yvonne Moir, Group HR Director, expressed enthusiasm about the new apprentices: “We’re delighted to welcome our latest intake of apprentices. We’re especially pleased to see such a significant proportion of young women in this year’s cohort, taking on roles across the business, including in engineering, commercial and within our sister IT business.”
She added: “It’s a powerful demonstration of our commitment to continuing to break down barriers to women entering engineering and to encouraging more young females to consider a career in the industry.”
Spencer Group’s apprenticeship programme has recruited 77 apprentices over the past eight years, maintaining a 100% pass rate for those who have completed their studies and earned various qualifications.
Jack Simms, a civil engineering degree apprentice, has followed his brother Luke into the company. Luke, who began his apprenticeship last year, was recently named a finalist for Technical Apprentice of the Year at the G4C Yorkshire and Humber Awards.
Jack said: “Doing an apprenticeship was an obvious choice for me. I don’t want to have student debt when I’m older, so an apprenticeship allows me to earn while I learn.”
He added: “My brother, Luke, started his apprenticeship with Spencer Group last year and is loving it. He was recently shortlisted for an award, so it has definitely been encouraging for me to see how well he is doing and the opportunities Spencer Group provides to its apprentices.”
