More than 500 schoolgirls will take part in an event in Birmingham aimed at encouraging more young women to take up a career in civil engineering.

The event at St Paul’s School for Girls in Edgbaston on January 29 sees a visit by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) West Midlands regional team.

The Institution is organising a series of challenging events highlighting the “varied and exciting” aspects of a career in civil engineering.

Five hundred girls aged 14-15 will take part in a variety of engineering challenges - including building and then walking across a 12.5 metre long model of a cable-stay bridge.

Helped by ten ICE ambassadors, the girls will also create and construct paper arches from rolled up newspapers.  

Skilled engineers Kaylie Donnelly from the British Tunnelling Society and Carol Bayliss from Network Rail will also give presentations about their work.

Several St Paul’s  ‘old girls’ have already taken up civil engineering as a career and headteacher Dawn Casserly said: “This is a great opportunity for our girls to see on a practical level exactly what civil engineering is all about. I hope it will inspire more girls into a career in civil engineering.”

Regional director Steve Feeley, from ICE West Midlands, said:  “With fewer than 10 per cent currently in the profession ICE aspires to attract more women in to civil engineering. We continue to run events like this in schools right across the region, to encourage and inspire young people in to this exciting and rewarding profession.”