Terex Female Fitter Academy
Terex—global manufacturer of materials processing equipment—is breaking down stereotypes that manufacturing roles are just for men through its ‘Female Fitter Academy’, a recruitment drive that has successfully hired six female assembly fitters at its facility located in Campsie, Northern Ireland.
Leona Magee, Senior HR Advisor at Terex explains, “We launched the Female Fitter Academy on social media and the response was amazing—women from all walks of life were contacting us as they liked what we were trying to achieve and wanted to work for an employer who is breaking down barriers by actively recruiting women in what are typically male-orientated roles.”
All applicants were invited to a full tour of the Terex Campsie facility and an onsite interview. Those who were successful received an onboarding programme, which included initial overview training. When ready to commence work each female received an assigned ‘buddy’ in their respective work area and continued assessment for any additional support required. Flexible or part-time hours were secured when required.
Laura Kernan, Assembly Fitter at Terex explains what enticed her to the role, “Previously I in an office job, and it just wasn’t for me – I prefer something hands-on. I had saw manufacturing roles in the past but thought I wouldn’t be taken seriously, being a female. When I saw Terex promoting the Female Fitter Academy, I just went for it! The team is always there to support me when needed, even adapting my working hours to suit my childcare.”
Due to the success of the initiative, Terex went one step further and worked with five local secondary schools on a ‘Workwear Challenge’, where students presented designs for workwear that was specifically tailored for women, while also meeting health and safety standards. Students received a site tour and took part in focus groups with the female fitters to understand their needs. The winning design is now being worn by female fitters at the Terex Campsie site.
“Working with our local schools helps us to break the gender stereotypes around careers in manufacturing as, through educating students on our industry, we can empower young girls to feel more confident in pursuing a career in manufacturing and/or engineering,” Leona added.