ENGINEER Katy Deacon has been given a rare opportunity to help raise awareness of women’s opportunities in the industry.

Katy, a senior engineer on Kirklees Council’s energy team, was one of just 20 women in the UK chosen to be part of the Government-funded Ingenious Women scheme.

Currently, only 8% of engineers in the country are women.

Katy, 31, will spread the message about engineering careers and become a role model for people who want to join the industry – especially women.

The aim of the Ingenious Women project is to help raise the profile of women among employers, schools and colleges, the public and the next generation of engineers.

Successful female engineers are so few in number that they are almost invisible.

But Katy has already carved a successful career for herself, spearheading a drive by the council’s energy team to improve energy efficiency in buildings and make greater use of renewable energy.

The team works with schools and building managers to help reduce energy use and costs.

Katy, from Fixby, has project managed the introduction of energy metering equipment to council buildings and designed renewable power systems for schools and colleges.

This work has the potential to save the council thousands of pounds in energy costs.

Katy welcomed that chance to get involved with the Ingenious Women team, which was chosen by a Government-funded equalities organisation.

She said: “I am really keen to spread the word about engineering, working with schools and young people to show what is possible and why it is a great career.

“The Ingenious Women programme will allow me to do that much more effectively, and hopefully inspire more people to consider a career in engineering.”

As well as joining the scheme, Katy has proven to be an award-winning engineer.

She thought of the concept and led the team which created the Renewable Energy Toolkit to help architects, engineers and developers to make the best use of renewable energy when designing buildings.

The project won the Energy Efficiency Product of the Year award in 2006 at the Electrical Industry Awards.

Katy was also presented with the Young Woman Engineer of the Year award in 2007.