A female engineering boss from Keighley features prominently in a new report on women in manufacturing published by a leading industry body.

Debbie Mellor, managing director of metals testing firm Keighley Laboratories, is one of two female executives to feature prominently in the report from EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, in partnership with Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

The Women in Manufacturing report is the second annual assessment of the role of women in senior positions in manufacturing.

It found that all of Britain’s FTSE 100 manufacturers now have at least one female director on their boards, but says more needs to be done to tackle the industry’s outdated ‘dirty and unglamorous’ image and to nurture talented women and girls from classroom to boardroom.

Debbie, along with Julia Kenny, chairman and chief executive of Rotherham-based Pyronix Ltd, were chosen to feature in the report as inspiring examples of women reaching a senior level in manufacturing.

They both call for more girls to be inspired to consider manufacturing and engineering as a career and say that changing perceptions about the industry requires efforts from schools as well as businesses.

Both oppose the introduction of quotas to increase the number of women in company boardrooms – urging instead that companies should act to identify and support talented women, improve the image and perception of manufacturing and do more to engage with schools.

Debbie said: “Budding female manufacturers and engineers have to be enthused and inspired while young, which is why schools, parents and businesses all have a role to play. The reality is that we have to open their eyes and empower young women to realise their full career potential.”

Andy Tuscher, EEF Yorkshire regional director, said: “The message from this report is clear – manufacturers are heading in the right direction, but cannot afford to let up. If our sector is to continue to thrive we need to be fishing from the entire talent pool and that means ensuring women have the right skills and opportunities and are represented at every level.”