Tomorrow is International Women’s Day and the theme this year represents an important priority for us at Arrotek. That theme is “Inspire Inclusion” where the aim is to “understand and value women’s inclusion” and “forge a more inclusive world for women”.
At Arrotek, we are conscious of the gender disparity that continues to exist in our industry, from the number of women starting engineering courses at colleges to the percentage of women in the skills talent pool to the balance of men and women in the workplace. We work hard to create an inclusive workplace to ensure we continue to play our part in getting more women into engineering and the medical device industry.
Inclusive Workplace at Arrotek
To find out more about the inclusive workplace that exists at Arrotek, we sat down with one of our female employees to learn more about her experience. Tracey Kelly is Arrotek’s Human Resources Manager, so holds a senior leadership role in the company. Due to a health condition, Tracey works part-time.
“Up until about 9 years ago,” Tracey said, “I worked full time leading a healthy life. I then, suddenly, got diagnosed with my health conditions and I thought the career that I had worked so hard for was gone. I couldn’t work full-time any longer and I didn’t think I would have any chance of getting a part-time role in the Northwest of Ireland that matched my experience, capabilities, and ambitions. Finding a part-time job with Arrotek was a perfect fit. In fact, it was a progression in my career.
“About two years ago as the company was growing, we started to get really busy. I recognised that I wouldn’t be able to do everything that was required in my three days at work, so I went to Mark (Mark Pugh, Arrotek Co-Founder and CEO) to discuss the situation about getting some help, a short time later Gemma started in the HR department.
“Knowing Mark, I had a fair idea we would find a solution as he has always been so supportive, and his first instinct was to see the bigger picture, accommodate my needs, and find a solution.
“It’s an approach that more companies should take. For me personally, getting support from Mark was unbelievably important. Everyone’s circumstances are different. My health means I need to work part-time but it could be caring commitments, family considerations, or another reason. But just because a person can’t work full-time should never hold them back. It doesn’t mean they can’t do their job and do it well. “So, my message on the theme of Inspire Inclusion for International Women’s Day 2024 is to encourage employers to understand each individual’s needs and see the bigger picture. It won’t always be possible to accommodate a request but where it is possible, it should be accommodated. See the person’s abilities to do the job well, not their restrictions.”
