London, UK -- GE Aviation, a subsidiary of the General Electric company, has been shortlisted for two national UK awards.
The company, which employs around 5,000 people in the UK, has been shortlisted in two categories in the Women of the Future awards which aim to celebrate the inspirational achievements of women across the UK.
The international aerospace business has been nominated in the Corporate award category for its efforts in supporting and nurturing young women in business, and one of its London-based Senior Sales Directors, Kelly Cole, has been named a finalist in the Business category, which recognises the achievements of female talent and inspirational women in the UK.
On being shortlisted, Kelly Cole, who started her career at GE as an engineering apprentice and is now a Senior Sales Director for GE Aviation across Europe and Africa said: “These awards are a great platform for women across the country to be recognised and to celebrate the achievements of females across a range of diverse sectors. I am delighted to be nominated in the Business category.”
In recent years, GE Aviation has made positive steps towards encouraging more women to consider technical careers. In 2010, GE Aviation launched Girls Get Set in the UK, an educational outreach programme aimed at girls aged 11-18 to encourage them to consider future careers in STEM subjects. As part of its wider educational initiatives, the company also hosts community driven STEM events at its UK sites, aimed at engaging and educating school pupils and teachers on the engineering and manufacturing career opportunities available in their local communities.
At the beginning of 2017, GE launched its ‘Balance the Equation Campaign’ which aims to attract, recruit and retain even more qualified, talented women across its technical entry-level programs and STEM roles by 2020.
With eight Aviation sites located throughout the UK, two of which have female executive site leads, this year 66% of Aviation’s intake of graduates in the UK to its Edison Engineering scheme were female.
“Without more women in technology and manufacturing, the skills gap will only widen, GE is working hard to significantly increase the representation of women into its STEM roles. Having a career in the aerospace sector has been extremely rewarding and fulfilling, it has given me so many opportunities and I am extremely passionate about encouraging even more young females to consider a future in STEM careers.’ Continued Kelly.
The awards ceremony will be held on the 15th November in London.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components, integrated digital, avionics, electrical power and mechanical systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings and is part of the world's Digital Industrial Company with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive.