As part of the Women in Aviation & Aerospace Charter’s Meet the Signatories series, members of the Charter explain why they joined the Charter, and what steps they have since taken to ensure the inclusion of women in the sectors.
Next in the series, we talk to Telespazio UK:
Please name your organisation and explain what it does in the aviation or aerospace industry
Telespazio UK is a dynamic and experienced consulting, technology and engineering services business based in Luton. Following our merger into the Telespazio Group in 2011 we have access to a vast array of world leading facilities and services, which we provide both within the UK and to our export markets. With a strong history in the European space arena starting in 1978, we have rich relationships across the space industry, with staff working closely with the European Space Agency (ESA) on programs and projects for 35 years. We now serve a wide range of public and private commercial markets globally by providing efficient, skilled support, specialising in Satellite Systems & Applications, Satellite Operations Management and Geo-Information Data & Services.
Why did you join the Women in Aviation & Aerospace Charter?
Diversity, equality and belonging is a key focus for us, and we fully appreciate the value brought to our organisation through the backgrounds and experiences of the individuals who make up our team. Central to this has been a recognition of the difficulties faced by many women when considering entering an historically male-dominated field. As a business we have recognised for a number of years the importance of supporting a more balanced gender diversity, and this has been reflected in our successes in hiring and retaining women in engineering posts. The opportunity to join the WiAA charter for us, meant that we could both publically commit to supporting the continued push towards gender balance, as well as sharing our learnings and successes with colleagues across the aerospace and aviation industries.
What steps are your organisation now taking to help improve gender balance in the industry?
Alongside the work that we’re doing with the WiAA charter, Telespazio UK are involved in other gender advocacy and networking groups throughout Europe, as well as being committed to ensuring fair processes for all applicants – from advertising, recruitment and selection, through to training and promotion. We also support initiatives within schools, colleges and Universities in order to highlight the breadth of careers and opportunities within the industry with the aim of encouraging young women who may not have considered engineering as an option, and providing them with role models.