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 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. Employing over 1,300 people and with annual sales of £3bn, GE Aviation Wales is one of the largest civil aircraft engine maintenance facilities in the world. The team in Wales currently support over 90 customers worldwide and has the capacity to handle more than 450 engines a year. In 2017, GE Aviation Wales was announced as the dedicated GE maintenance, repair and overhaul facility for the GE9X, the world’s next great commercial jet engine. The GE9X is due to launch into service in 2020, powering the new Boeing 777X aircraft.
Why are you supporting the awards?
GE Aviation Wales is proud to support the 2019 Womenspire Awards and help recognise the powerful contribution that women from all walks of life make every day to the success of Wales. GE Aviation Wales is particularly pleased to endorse the Community Activist award category, as we understand the important responsibilities we all have to work together to develop and sustain communities across Wales.
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?
The team at GE Aviation Wales has enjoyed a longstanding and productive relationship with Chwarae Teg. That partnership has resulted in joint working and personal and professional development for hundreds of women; skills and experiences that will support their future GE careers. 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 across the economy.