The science exhibition based at EDF Energy’s Sizewell B visitor centre has taken to the road in support of a nation-wide campaign to promote women in engineering.

EDF Energy was among 50 businesses taking part in an event held at the John Innes Centre in Norwich today as part of National Women in Engineering Day, which attracted around 200 students from 22 schools across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Besides the opportunity to speak to representatives from the businesses taking part, the students heard from a panel of speakers including Helen Cavill, last year’s winner of the Women in Engineering Society Prize, and Scarlett Mummery, a geotechnical engineer and author of the popular industry blog “Offshore Blondie”.

Paul Morton, Sizewell B station director, said: “EDF Energy believes a diverse and inclusive workforce is critical to the performance of the business.

“Through our visitor centres and Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) outreach programme we are always looking for ways in which we can encourage more female students to consider science and a career in the energy sector.”

Claire Hopkins, STEM Manager of Connect Education Business, one of the organisers of the event, added: “This is an important event enabling us to promote engineering and energy to female students in an interesting and engaging way.

“The partnership will enable us to work with and inspire even more young people to explore opportunities in engineering and energy. There are key economic opportunities across Norfolk and Suffolk and we want our young people to be at the forefront of these developments.”

The Sizewell B visitor centre has welcomed more than 13,000 visitors since it opened in December 2012, with most of the tours being organised for schools and educational groups.

Last year, EDF Energy launched #PrettyCurious, a programme to encourage more teenage girls to study STEM subjects by offering hands-on experiences and opportunities to learn about the wide range of careers available in STEM.

National Women in Engineering Day is an awareness campaign created by the Women’s Engineering Society to raise the profile of women in engineering and focus on the career opportunities available to girls in the sector. Today’s event in East Anglia was organised by Connect Education Business in partnership with WEN UK.