A SILSDEN woman is urging schoolgirls interested in pursuing a career in engineering not to be deterred from their dreams.

Becky Simms said she herself had found it harder than it was for boys to study the appropriate subjects.

But the 20-year-old, who is now reading mechanical engineering at Loughborough University, said girls should not be put off.

She was speaking to coincide with National Women in Engineering Day.

"It shouldn't be hard to follow your desired career path, but if you are a girl and wish to pursue engineering, it can be tougher than it should be," said Becky.

"If you are in that position, my message is 'don't give up'!

"I've always had an interest in puzzles and problem-solving and was good at maths and physics.

"Engineering seemed to be a combination of the subjects I was good at and enjoyed and because my dad is an engineer, I had a good idea what it involved.

"My school was amazing in many ways, but it did not offer design and technology as a subject option – that was only available at the equivalent boys' school – which meant I didn't have the same opportunities to pursue the right subjects for my career."

Becky was given the opportunity in year 12 to take part in an engineering education scheme, working with a leading safety and sustainability consultancy on a six-month project designing a solution for plugging keyhole excavations in roads.

That helped convince her she was looking at the right career.

"As this was a real-life engineering project, it gave me a further insight into what a career in engineering might actually be like," she added.

"I was applying for university at the time, so it confirmed I was making the right decision in terms of my course."

Before starting at Loughborough, she worked for a year with Rolls-Royce, where she project-managed a Government-funded research and development programme identifying and creating new technologies for turbine blades.

Becky's message to girls who enjoy maths and science and are considering GSCE or A-level options is "do what you want to do, not what you think you ought to do".

"Listen to advice from others but don't let them tell you you are wrong," she said.

"The decisions you make now will affect the rest of your life, so make those decisions for you, not for someone else.

"If you enjoy maths and science, then definitely find out what engineering is really like. There are some great careers in engineering, which cover a whole range of activities you'd never have imagined."