In Europe, GE’s financial business, GE Capital, 33% of its board is female, whilst in the US 45% of its board is comprised of women. The Award builds on GE’s existing accolades – earlier in the year it was listed as one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Women, and GE’s HR Director won the Opportunity Now award for “Directing Diverse Talent”
GE was highly commended at the European Diversity Awards for its outstanding Women’s Network. Initiated in 1997, the EMEA network has over 10,000 members in 8 regions, across 35 countries, and held over 1000 events in 2011.
Mark Elborne, President & CEO, GE UK, said:
“We are proud that our Women’s Network has been recognised as an industry leader. At GE, we strive to attract, develop and retain the very best and diverse talent. The Women’s Network provides unparalleled development opportunities to promote leadership, advancement and career broadening opportunities, setting GE apart from the competition.”
The network gives members huge influence across the company through workshops, roundtable events, and networking opportunities that are communicated to employees through an interactive website and regular blog posts.
An example of a Women’s Network initiative is GirlsGetSET, part of GE Aviation’s efforts to address the fact that in the UK only 17% of engineering employees are female. It is a unique scheme which provides constant contact for girls throughout key stages in their secondary school careers and allows them to build key personal skills required by employers, such as team building, leadership and communications skills.
Recognition at the European Diversity Awards highlights the importance GE places on diversity and the central role it plays in the way the Company runs its staff and businesses. In the US women comprise 25% of the GE board and in Europe, GE’s financial business, GE Capital has 45% women in its senior leadership team and a board comprising 33% women – as well as a female chair.
The Diversity Award nomination builds upon the wider success of employee development at GE. Earlier in 2012, GE was listed as one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Women and their HR Director won the Opportunity Now award for “Directing Diverse Talent”.
Mary FitzPatrick, Diversity Leader, GE Capital EMEA, commented:
“It is an honour to have been nominated for this award, and to be highly commended is testament to the work by all those involved in the Women’s Network. The achievements of all the female leaders across our business have set the foundations for wider GE success.”
