Peterborough based Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited, the home of Hotpoint, Indesit, Whirlpool and KitchenAid brands, has launched a brand new Inclusion and Diversity strategy, which includes an aim to encourage more women into engineering roles.
The announcement coincides with International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), an awareness campaign that takes place annually on 23rd June, which raises the profile of women in engineering roles, in addition to highlighting the career opportunities available to women and girls in the industry. Launched by the Women’s Engineering Society, this year’s INWED campaign is titled ‘Engineering Heroes’, celebrating the fantastic work that women engineers are doing globally, not only in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but in supporting lives and livelihoods every day.
Whirlpool UK’s support for the INWED campaign is part of the company’s newly launched Inclusion and Diversity strategy. The new strategy is underpinned by a campaign titled ‘I am all in’, which aims to create an inclusive, diverse and vibrant workforce, ensuring all employees feel welcomed, valued, respected and heard, as well as showing that they are represented at all levels of the organisation.
Whirlpool UK’s new Inclusion and Diversity strategy includes a number of programmes focused on supporting and developing employees, while providing them with greater access to career development, training and wellbeing support. For example, the Young Professionals programme supports young people in developing their careers, encouraging them to be active and engaged in training and development opportunities. The Whirlpool Women’s Network is a further initiative that empowers and engages women at all levels within the organisation, supporting them through development and career progression. What’s more, the EMPOWER programme was established to develop the next generation of female leaders within the company, as well as to retain them as valued members of the workforce.
To support the INWED campaign, Whirlpool UK will be sharing a series of case studies to tell the stories of female professionals that have successfully risen through the ranks at the company, including within roles in fulfilment centres and at Whirlpool UK’s head office in Peterborough. The case studies will aim to not only demonstrate Whirlpool UK’s ability to nurture talent and provide excellent progression opportunities, they will also highlight the career opportunities available within the organisation, with the aim of encouraging more women into engineering based roles.
One such case study is the story of Tarna Stapleton, who started her career at Whirlpool UK as a team member at one of the company’s call centres. After taking part in a number of training opportunities and initiatives offered by Whirlpool UK, in addition to receiving support and guidance from the Whirlpool Women’s Network, Tarna rose through the ranks and is now an Engineer Planning Manager based at the company’s UK head office in Peterborough. As part of her role, Tarna drives Whirlpool UK’s commitment to employing more women in engineering roles, using the story of her own progression to highlight the many opportunities that are available for women within the company.
In what is traditionally seen as a male dominated field, Whirlpool UK believes that it is important to highlight the vast array of opportunities available to women in the engineering industry. Whirlpool UK offers its employees the opportunity to develop their engineering skills and progress within clearly defined promotion paths, and regularly checked tools and equipment, high quality PPE, manual handling training and access to local mentor engineers are just a few examples of the support that the company provides to all of its service engineers. What’s more, to ensure a high level of safety for its employees, engineers are provided with a Lonealert device that attaches to their uniform, enabling them to receive rapid assistance and their vans can also be equipped with a panic alarm and tracker.
Adam Parry, HR Manager, Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited says: “The promotion of inclusion and diversity is a core value at Whirlpool UK, and we are passionate about ensuring that our workforce reflects the diverse communities in which we operate. We are proud to have been voted a Top Employer for four years running, showcasing our commitment to nurturing talent and creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
“As part of our new Inclusion and Diversity strategy, we are hoping to raise the profile of women in engineering and highlight the excellent career opportunities that are available. We look forward to sharing the stories of the fantastic women that have developed their careers here at Whirlpool UK, with the aim of celebrating their achievements and inspiring more women and girls to consider a career in engineering”.
For more information on International Women in Engineering Day 2021, please visit the website at https://www.inwed.org.uk/
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Image caption:
- Adam Parry, HR Manager, Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited
About Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited:
Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited is managed by Whirlpool EMEA, part of Whirlpool Corporation, the world’s leading kitchen and laundry appliance company.
Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited fully supports the AMDEA safety initiative, Register My Appliance, and is committed to encouraging householders to register their appliances: www.registermyappliance.org.uk
About Whirlpool Corporation:
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the world’s leading kitchen and laundry appliance company, with approximately $19 billion in annual sales, 78,000 employees and 57 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2020. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, JennAir, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at whirlpoolcorp.com.
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23rd June 2021
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