Female workers at esteemed companies including Assystem and Red Bull Technology receive a significantly lower mean hourly rate than their male colleagues, according to newly-published gender pay gap data.
The government published information from more than 10,000 companies nationwide today, showing roughly eight in 10 of all businesses with more than 250 workers pay men more than women on average.
The data does not reveal unequal pay for the same jobs, which is illegal, but it does show women are frequently employed in lower-paying roles than men.
“The gender pay gap reporting provides further evidence of the serious issue of the under-representation of women in engineering,” said Royal Academy of Engineering CEO Dr Hayaatun Sillem. “It also highlights the lack of women at senior levels and in occupations that pay higher salaries.”
Focusing on key engineering sectors such as manufacturing, construction and transportation, Professional Engineering reviewed the mean hourly rate data to identify some of the engineering-related firms with the UK’s biggest gender pay gaps.
James Frew – 62%
At building, maintenance and renewable technology firm James Frew, the women’s mean hourly rate is 62% lower than men’s. The Stevenston-based company works with customers in the public and private sectors on a wide range of projects.
Survitec Group – 58.6%
For every pound that male employees of Survitec Group earn, their female colleagues earn only 41p. The group is responsible for a number of survival and technology brands in the marine, offshore, defence and aviation sectors. Employees design and manufacture everything from boats to firefighting systems and life jackets.
Masco UK Window Group – 49.9%
This “one stop” window firm manufactures 10,000 frames, 15,000 glass units and 500 composite doors every week across the UK – but women only earn roughly half as much as male colleagues.
Premier Oil PLC – 49.6%
With almost 700 employees worldwide, this oil and gas exploration and production company has 258 in the UK. In an online document, the company said the results are skewed by men dominating the top two pay quartiles.
BAM Construct UK – 46.9%
Services engineering is one of the main focuses for this company, which specialises in sustainable buildings. "The fundamental fact is that we pay people fairly for similar work," a spokesman said. "The gender pay gap does not imply that men and women in similar work are treated differently." Chief executive James Wimpenny said the firm will encourage more women to join, and to ensure nothing inhibits their progress within the company.
Pell Frischmann Consultants – 45.8%
“Gender balance is a longstanding challenge in engineering, and one that must be overcome with urgency,” the firm wrote online. Despite the drastic difference in average pay, the company highlighted positive steps already taken and set out a plan of action.
V.Ships UK – 44.8%
As part of V.Group, a global provider of maritime services to the commercial shipping, cruise, energy and defence industries, V.Ships is the only UK entity with more than 250 employees. Of those, women only earn a mean 55p for every £1 a man makes, but the company said it hopes to hire and retain more women.
Eurotherm – 44.5%
Schneider Electric’s Eurotherm manufactures instrumentation, systems and services for efficient industrial processes.
Matrix Control Solutions – 43.3%
Now known as E.ON Control Solutions, this company is part of E.ON’s efficiency and sustainability focus.
Wipac – 43.2%
Wipac designs and manufactures lights for the world’s premium car makers.
All listed companies have been contacted for comment.
To collect the data, PE reviewed the official government gender pay gap website. Companies related to engineering sectors but likely to be skewed, such as airlines, were not included.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.