A new £21 million engineering graduate school building at the University of Sheffield has been named after a leading female engineer.
The seven-storey building, which will be known as the Pam Liversidge Building, is situated on the corner of Newcastle Street and Broad Lane.
Pam Liversidge is currently managing director of Quest Investments Ltd, a shareholder in engineering and medical device companies.
However, she first made a name for herself within the industry by becoming the first female president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1997-98. She then pursued a career in engineering with names like GKN before establishing her own manufacturing companies.
Pam was also the first female to serve as Master of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire in 2011-12, as well as being a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers.
The decision to name such a revolutionary building after one of the world’s leading female engineers is a step forward for the industry. It is also particularly significant at the moment, as the industry tries to recruit more female engineers.
The Pam Liversidge building has flexible teaching and study space, IT facilities and two lecture theatres. It will be home to a number of engineering postgraduate students and three research ventures: INSIGNEO, SCentRO and CISTIB.
Pro-Vice Chancellor of Engineering, Professor Mike Hounslow expressed his delight at Pam’s acceptance of having the new building named after her:
“Pam has made a real mark in the world of engineering and has been a great supporter of the University over many years and I’m genuinely proud that she has agreed to this important association.”
Speaking of having the building named in her honour, Pam said: “The honour of having this prestigious building named after me is one of the most special and significant I have ever been awarded and I am immensely grateful to the Faculty and the University.”
She also commented on the hard work carried out by Sheffield’s Faculty of Engineering in order to encourage women into engineering.
To mark the naming of the building, the Faculty has announced a £150,000 scholarship fund. Some of which will be used to encourage future generations of female engineers.
