From Aircraft Engineer to Inclusion Consultant

Inclusion Consultant

What did you do before AWE?

Prior to joining AWE, I served 22 years in the RAF as Aircraft Engineer (Weapons).

I’ve built and maintained every weapon type in the RAF arsenal from 3kg practise bombs to storm shadow cruise missile and everything in between. Other armament roles I have held are small arms manager in station armouries, trade supervisor on Typhoon and Trade Manager on Puma helicopters. My most favoured role was away from trade as a Basic Training Instructor. The opportunity to inspire and train the next generation RAF was amazing. No day was the same and it was challenging at times but the skillset I gained was second to none. I even learned to shout correctly and loudly!

Why did you choose AWE?

AWE has always interested me but being a “nuclear company” I never thought there would be a job for me. It wasn’t until an acquaintance got in touch about a job there. I read up on the job and the company and thought yes…I can do that I’m going for it….

Job security was a big thing, the opportunities available within the company another but the main reason was how much the company thinks about its work force… it’s people! The support, the want to do better, to be better!!W

What do you do?

My role at AWE is Inclusion Consultant in the ED&I team which is part of the Employee Experience Team. I look at all things Inclusion and how we can make the workplace culture better and more inclusive. That’s not saying it’s not already but there’s always work to do especially today. Society, views, and laws can all change so quickly that it can be scary for some people, so just being able to talk to someone in a safe space makes all the difference.

I also work closely with the Employee Resource Groups. They are some amazing people with such passion and drive to make AWE a better place for everyone. Some of the initiatives they are driving are really making a difference to the business in a positive way.

How has your experience in the forces helped with your role at AWE?

Being an Engineer and female in the RAF had its challenges which shaped me to who I am today. I always found myself being the voice for others who didn’t have the confidence to do it. Did it hinder my progress, I think it did, but would I do it differently … no!

Being a voice for someone else and making a change for good is what made me change from Engineering to Inclusion (HR). Organisational skills, listening skills, project planning, crisis management, leadership, change management, instructor and mentoring techniques are a few things I learned being in the RAF but if you asked me a year ago about any of those things, I would have said “just doing my job”.