Locit, a designer and manufacturer of steel lockers and storage solutions, is championing women's employment in the manufacturing and engineering sectors.
It follows a report from Engineering UK that revealed the number of women working in engineering dropped from 16.5% to 15.7% in the past year. Meanwhile, the gender split in manufacturing remains stubbornly imbalanced, with women making up only 26% of the workforce.
At Locit, 25% of its 45-strong workforce are women, distributed across production, administrative and sales roles. In recognition of International Women in Engineering Day 2024 (INWED24), the Deeside-based company has pledged to redouble its efforts to address gender disparity in its business and showcase its advanced manufacturing processes and technologies to attract women into the sector
Jessy Pauletto exemplifies Locit’s initiative. As a production assistant, she plays a role in the manufacturing process, ensuring smooth operations as Locit aims to meet growing demand.
"I was always curious about how things worked,” Pauletto explained. “If a household appliance broke down, I would take it apart, work my way around its mechanism using guides and try to fix it. I had a mechanical mindset and loved using my hands.”
When Pauletto could not afford a technical education, she trained and worked as a masseuse and later as a tattoo artist. But the call to engineering was too strong, so she retrained as a motorbike mechanic.
But after moving to the UK in 2021, Pauletto found that her Brazilian qualifications were not recognised, and she struggled to find suitable work.
At Locit, Pauletto has found an environment where her skills and passion are valued, and she can progress. In less than a year, Pauletto has been promoted to team leader.
“Just being in an engineering environment is a buzz,” Pauletto said. “It’s where I feel most at home, getting my hands dirty, playing a part in making these fantastic products from scratch.
"While only a few of us women are on the factory floor, the guys are supportive and inclusive. Locit has provided me with a fantastic opportunity to work in a modern manufacturing environment, learn more skills, and progress to working on the machinery. I feel incredibly lucky.”
