BRIGHT young women with designs on success laid the foundations to break into the male-dominated world of engineering.

Bolton School hosted a Women in STEM — science, technology, engineering and maths — day where they had a chance to speak to those working in engineering.

Girls from Essa Academy and Bolton St Catherine's Academy also attended the event designed to show them the many different career options are available to them.

The pupils spoke to a number of STEM Ambassadors including Natalie Brock a structural engineer for WML Consulting, Kate Harrison, a civil/structural engineer, Jack McLear, a technical consultant, with IBM-BAE and Eraina Smith, a civil engineer with Capita, who could gave perspectives on the many different types of engineering careers available.

A spokesman for Bolton School, said: "In particular, it was great for the pupils to talk to so many women studying or working in careers related to STEM subjects, as it allowed the girls to get an idea of what it is really like to move into these fields.

"The informal nature of the sessions and the friendly attitude of the guests really helped the conversation to flow throughout the day.

"The ‘Women in STEM’ day was once again an inspiration to the girls who attended, and gave them a great insight into the career paths they might pursue in the future. This was the second year that the ‘Women in STEM’ careers event has run. It was once again organised by the School’s Ogden Trust Teaching Fellow, Dr Louise Wheatland."

Also on hand were undergraduate students Rhiannon Goswell, studying applied physics at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Lucy Talbot studying chemical engineering at the University of Manchester.

They talked about what to expect from university courses and the different routes into engineering that are available to young people.