Tell us about your organisation
GE Aviation is a global business with a strong Welsh operation; contributing significantly to the economies of Wales and the UK. GE Aviation Wales specialises in the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of a range of commercial jet engines. The facility, based in Nantgarw just north of Cardiff, occupies over 1.2 million square feet of workshop space and has two state-of-the-art jet engine test facilities. GE Aviation Wales is one of the largest civil aircraft engine maintenance facilities in the world and looking ahead, the site will be leading the world in providing MRO support and Test facilities for the world’s next great engine, the GE9X.
Why are you supporting the awards?
GE Aviation Wales is a proud and longstanding supporter of both Chwarae Teg and the Womenspire Awards. The team is delighted to be supporting Womenspire again in 2020 and recognise the critical contribution that women from all walks of life make to the success of the Welsh economy, the arts, charity sector and beyond. GE Aviation Wales is particularly pleased to be supporting the Board Member award category this year; recognising the role female leadership must play in Wales’ prosperous and sustainable future.
Why does gender equality matter to you?
Across the world GE Aviation works hard to create diverse workplaces where women can thrive and grow throughout their careers. The future of the aviation sector will be built and sustained on talented, diverse and skilled workforce and this is why equality is so important to our business. Numerous studies have shown that technical and engineering sectors are still male dominated, whilst the pipeline for future talent is insufficient to meet future needs. Without more women in technology, aviation, engineering and manufacturing, GE Aviation expects the skills gap to widen, impacting productivity and diminishing the return from technological innovations in the future. GE Aviation – and the entire family of GE businesses – believes this commercial imperative, coupled with the continuous challenges of recruiting and retaining top female talent in STEM-related roles, means that organisations of all sizes and sectors must make continued commitments and take dedicated action to close the gender gap.
Why do you support the work of Chwarae Teg?
GE Aviation Wales has enjoyed a longstanding and productive relationship with Chwarae Teg over the years. That partnership has resulted in joint working and personal and professional development opportunities for hundreds of women, helping to provide skills and experiences that will support their future GE careers. GE Aviation Wales also looks forward to continuing to work with Chwarae Teg in the future to engage the next generation of talent in STEM-related careers and development opportunities. Chwarae Teg is an important organisation for Wales’ future economic prosperity as it has the tools, techniques and team capable of supporting employers on a journey towards equality.