SCHOOLGIRLS in Blackburn rose to the occasion when they took part in taster sessions encouraging them to train for careers in engineering and science.

More than 55 girls from Blackburn Central High School and Islamiyah High School attended sessions at Training 2000’s offices to get first-hand experience in the world of automotive production and engineering.

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Students aged 12 and 13 from the schools created tiny plant pots in the engineering department and then filled it with a tiny rose made using a 3D printer.

Blackburn Central High School pupil Natasha Ashworth, 13, said: “It’s been a fun and enjoyable day. My older sister is doing engineering and electronics at the moment and I can see why she likes it so much.”

The taster sessions were laid on to challenge preconceptions and encourage girls that working in the sciences could be the career for them.

“Training 2000 is an education body which works hard to battle stereotypes that reduce young women’s career choices and we hope to create the female role models of the future.

"However there is still progress to be made, as research by GirlGuiding UK has shown that 62 per cent of 11-21 year-old girls unfortunately believe courses such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics are just for boys,” said Training 2000 chief executive Steve Gray.

The Girls Allowed taster scheme will now take place every year at the business’s headquarters in Furthergate Business Park, Blackburn.

Next month the firm is set to introduce younger pupils to the engineering world by putting on taster sessions for 120 boys and girls from local primary schools.