In this second and final bonus episode of #TheEquityEdge we focus on disability and neurodiversity in Engineering. Hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by Martin Griffin, Geotechnical Engineer and award-winning EDI champion for advocacy for disability and neurodiversity inclusion, Chair of Ably Different, a member of the group of IOM3, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, Co-Chair of the EqualEngineers neurodiversity network, and Vice President of the Geological Society with responsibility for EDI. The discussion begins with acknowledging that disability can sometimes be described as a forgotten dimension of diversity, and raises the issue of whether equity, diversity and inclusion programs are fully including disabled and neurodiverse people. We look at what businesses need to be aware of for the inclusion and accessibility for their disabled and neurodiverse employees and consider the importance of reasonable adjustments . Martin recommends support for employers to adopt to ensure they become disability and neurodivergent inclusive, and how to adopt a more inclusive culture at work, whether in the process of change or just starting out.

In this bonus episode of #TheEquityEdge we mark International Women in Engineering Day, to raise the profile of women in engineering, celebrate their achievements and highlight the amazing engineering career opportunities available to women and girls. Hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by Sarah Connolly, a Materials Engineer and Innovation Lead for transforming foundation industries, Lorraine Ferris, a Scientist and Managing Director who has worked across management consulting, environmental and chemical industries, and is now a fellow at the Henry Royce Institute, and Lucy Smith, Head of Transformation at the Materials Processing Institute, and leading Foundation Industries Ventures, also known as Five. The conversation charts their individual, varied career paths, the highlights of their career so far, and the achievements they are most proud of. They discuss data around the percentage of women working in engineering decreasing, the fact that women aged 35 – 65 are choosing to leave the industry, and how we can retain female talent through the impact of allies, advocates and mentors. This is a live recording of #TheEquityEdge, recorded at the TransFIRe final event, which closes the three-year programme of research and innovation.

In this episode of #TheEquityEdge we wrap up the series by focusing on the future. Hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by guests Bruce Adderley, Challenge Director for Transforming Foundation Industries at Innovate UK, Nana Campbell, Chief Impact Officer at the 10,000 Interns Foundation, Laura Baker, Head of Product Management and Development at Tata Steel, UK, and ambassador for STEM skills and education, Aston Fuller, General Manager at Glass Futures. Our industry experts explore what lies ahead. They discuss the future challenges such as the demographics of the industry, with an aging workforce and environmental issues such as transitioning to green steel. They look at ways to replenish the recruitment pipeline through internships and collaboration (within manufacturing, research, technology and the supply chain). The conversation covers the role of EDI across the foundations industries.

In this episode of #TheEquityEdge our industry focus is metal. Host Jo Stansfield is joined by guests Pam Murrell, Chief Executive Officer of the Cast Metals Federation and director of the UK Metals Council, Katherine Evans, Chartered Geologist and Founder of Bold as Brass, advocating for gender equity in mining and construction, and Jon Bolton, a prominent figure in the UK Steel industry and current Chair of the Materials Processing Institute. We learn how inclusive is metals manufacturing for workers of today and in the future. We hear from metals industry experts and explore practical actions for inclusion. The guests examine the need to widen the workforce through policies that make the industry accessible for all, and discuss the environmental issues in E.S.G. They focus on PPE, facilities and the mental health and wellbeing issues for female staff and recognise that “one size fits no one”.

In this episode of #TheEquityEdge our industry focus is paper. Hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by guests Graham Ormondroyd, Head of Materials Research at the Biocomposites Center and Professor of wood science at Bangor University, Jude Allen, Chair of the Packaging Group and EDI Lead at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, and Natanael Bolson, Research Associate at the University of Cambridge and a Researcher on the TransFIRe programme. We learn about the manufacturing, functionality and versatility of paper and packaging. The guests focus on sustainability, skills shortage, the circular economy, and attracting and developing people with suitable skills. They consider paper’s role in the transformation to net zero alongside building more diverse and inclusive workspaces that are far reaching than the production line, by creating awareness and sharing best practice.

In this episode of #TheEquityEdge our industry focus is ceramics. Hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by guests Abigail Bell, Aerospace Engineer and Innovation Executive for the Northeast Process Industries Cluster, Katy Moss, CEO for Trent Refractories, Colin Church, Chief Executive of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and Silvia Grimaldi, Reader in Service Design and collaborative futures, and Co-Founder of the Service Futures Lab at the University of the Arts, London. We discover that there is more to ceramics than teapots and toilets, and learn about the process of manufacturing ceramics, while considering the environmental and social impact of manufacturing. The guests share their personal experiences and journeys into engineering, their routes into the industry; including the barriers, challenges and lessons learned. They discuss nurturing early interest in engineering, the opportunities to enter into the industry, and existing professional support. They consider how the culture can be shifted, through co-design and integrated leadership approaches, to create more welcoming, inclusive environments within engineering.

In this episode of #TheEquityEdge our industry focus is glass. Hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by guests Roma Agrawal, Structural Engineer, Author and Broadcaster, Fiacre O'Donnell, Director of Sustainability at Encirc, Furkan Karayel, Author of the best-selling book Inclusive Intelligence and Neelam Mughal, Innovation Lead for the Innovate UK Transforming Foundation Industries. We learn about the history of glass, how it is made, and the current challenges for decarbonisation, with a focus on the design and engineering of The Shard in London, the tallest building in Western Europe. The guests share insights on the role of inclusion unleashing innovation in glass and the foundation industries as a whole. They discuss initiatives to promote gender diversity in the manufacturing industry and the importance of involving middle-management, and explore the importance of inclusive leadership for team performance and wellbeing.

In this episode of #TheEquityEdge our industry focus is cement. Hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by guests Veronika Elfmarkova, Innovation Manager at Lafarge Cement, Ollie Folayan, Head of Process and Safety Engineering at Optimus Plus Aberdeen, Masoud Ahmadinia, Assistant Professor in Sustainable Manufacturing at Coventry University and Jack Daly Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Leeds University Business School. The conversation covers the link between equality, diversity and inclusion and sustainability, and how cohesion may be an answer to some environmental challenges. They discuss the importance of the second most produced material in the world, concrete; and why Engineers are the midwives of sustainability. They explore how the creation and recruitment for high-quality part- time roles will attract, engage and retain more people to the sector. With the quest to achieve Net Zero 2050, they share how and why a greener future has to be a global and inclusive discussion.

In this episode of #TheEquityEdge, hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by guests: Kyra Sedransk Campbell, Associate Professor at the University of Sheffield, co founder of Nanomox and an EDI Champion, Mark McBride-Wright, Chartered Engineer and founder and CEO of Equal Engineers, Lisa Nicholas, Equity Diversity and Inclusion Manager who champions positive change in male dominated industries, and Paula Furtado Kohn, Lecturer at Sheffield, Hallam University. This rich discussion encompasses cultural change for greater inclusivity in the workplace and helping leaders to become more authentic. As they shed light on the startling statistics on masculinity within the construction, manufactoring and process industries, they share about the greater need for psychological safety, through engaging with the majority to highlight the needs of the marginalised and underrepresented. The conversation includes the guests’ involvement within different networks within the Foundations industry and the greater need for industry inclusion.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and within foundation industries: perceptions, practice and progression In this first episode of The Equity Edge, hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by three guests: Professor Mark Jolly, Director of manufacturing and materials at Cranfield University and the lead scientist on the Transfire transforming the foundation industries project. Dr. Shini Somara, multi award winning computational fluid dynamicist, mechanical engineer, author and broadcaster who brings complex science technology and engineering to everyone and Dr. Rhys Morgan, Director of the Royal Academy of Engineering. They launch the series by explaining the concept of foundation industries and their importance. The discussion progresses to stereotypes upheld in Engineering and within the foundation industries, mainly around gender. The group considers the ways to support companies to be more inclusive; starting from education through to working and being established in industry and visual representation.

We are excited to announce the launch of the NEW podcast: The Equity Edge, discussing#EDI within the Foundations Industry, with hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield.