Member Article

ZF Peterlee celebrates International Women in Engineering Day 2021

Global technology leader ZF is marking International Women in Engineering Day (Wednesday, June 23) with the appointment of another female engineering apprentice.

Beth Parodi started earlier this year as a Level-3 SQA apprentice. Having completed her probationary period with the Peterlee company, Beth is now working towards the many technical elements of her three-year apprenticeship.

Beth joins fellow engineering employee Holly Herron, who is into her third and final year of a Level-3 maintenance technician apprenticeship. Once she has completed the qualification, Holly will hopefully move onto an engineering HNC.

Beth, 19, from Sunderland said: “I am really enjoying my apprenticeship, it’s such a diverse role and I am learning lots of new skills. I aim to do really well so that when I have completed my apprenticeship, I can move up in the company.” Both Beth and Holly have been recruited through Sunderland College, ZF Peterlee’s long-term apprenticeship partner.

Holly said: “ZF is an excellent company to work for and from day one everyone has been so supportive. I am currently working through the final year of my apprenticeship, after which I’m aiming to complete an engineering HNC, which I really hope will put me in the ideal position to move up within the company.”

Lance Herdman is Holly’s manager. He said: “Holly has integrated well within the maintenance team and has gained a lot of respect from her fellow technicians, who have been impressed with her work ethic and attitude to learning and pushing herself.

“I understand from speaking to other department managers that Beth is also progressing well and has shown real enthusiasm in the role.”

Carolyn Bird from the HR team managed the recruitment of both Beth and Holly and is delighted at how they have settled into the business.

She said: “Both Holly and Beth have done so well with their apprenticeships so far, during what has been a very difficult period.

“It’s been especially hard for Holly given she has had to continue with her apprenticeship during three lockdown periods, which have understandably presented us and Holly with many challenges. However, they’ve both knuckled down and not let the circumstances affect them which is testament to them and their commitment to their development.”

Lisa Hudson, HR Manager at ZF Peterlee, added: “As a company, ZF believes in apprenticeships as a way of developing talent and is also delighted to be championing young female engineering recruits like Holly and Beth. It is so important that the industry attracts more women and global events like International Women in Engineering Day can only help that.

“Investing in fresh talent is a key element of our succession planning programme. However, just as importantly, we are committed to the development of all of our staff, so when we bring people into the business we support them through their learning and development and encourage them to take the opportunities for further progression that come their way.

“It’s an approach which has really enhanced ZF Peterlee’s continued growth and secured our position of a global automotive technology centre of excellence within the group.”

ZF Peterlee, which employs around 900 people, is a worldwide leader in the production of automotive camera safety technology, with millions of pounds of investment committed in the last few years to support the continued growth of the market.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leanne English .