Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) used International Women’s Day (March 8) to highlight women's role within traditionally male-dominated STEM career fields.

Since 2020, aerospace engineering courses have seen a 325 per cent increase in female participants.

College principal, Sharon James-Evans stated, "At CAVC, we are acutely aware of the gap that remains between the number of male and female learners that study STEM subjects beyond GCSE.

"It is pleasing to see that we are making strides in attracting more women to subjects stereotypically chosen by men."

Annabel Leger, who started at CAVC on the BTEC Level 3 Aeronautical Course, achieved a Distinction Merit grade and progressed to the BEng (Hons) Aircraft Engineering degree.

She is currently on a Master’s in Air-Transport Economics at Cranfield University.

IT-related subjects have seen a 107 per cent increase in women enrolled, such as Ellie Mitchell who started at CAVC on a Level 3 Computing course and now works for a 'prestigious' cyber security firm after graduating with first-class honours.

The college encourages young women to consider STEM subjects by organising competitions and events that provide hands-on experience, like the Schools Aero Challenge.

Ms James-Evans said: "We are extremely passionate about removing any barriers to education here at CAVC, ensuring that we provide our young people with limitless opportunities to progress into any career, regardless of their gender."