Women spread their wings at East Midlands Airport
Women are increasingly taking on roles traditionally dominated by men at East Midlands Airport, with more than a third of Airfield Operations positions now held by women.
It’s a big change since Lauren Turner (pictured left) – promoted last year as the airport’s Operations Director – first started working in Airfield Operations as the only female on the team. As International Women’s Day is marked on Sunday 8 March, she is proud that out of a team of 39, 15 are now women – five of them in management roles.
Among them are Nic Dowson (pictured centre) and Leanne Skinner (pictured right), both Airfield Operations Duty Managers overseeing the day-to-day safe running of the airport. They are in charge of the team on shift carrying out crucial duties such as regular patrols and inspections, aircraft marshalling, providing weather updates, and clearing debris, snow and birds from the runway, taxiways and aprons.
Nic is one of the longest-serving members of staff, having worked at the airport for more than 30 years, six of them in Airfield Operations. She went from being a barmaid at her local pub to customer services at the airport after one of the pub regulars, a former airport director, suggested the move. She has held a wide range of positions since, but says Airfield Ops is “the best job in the world.”
“Historically it was very male-oriented, and I was one of only two women in the team at the time,” she said. “There was a view that women would worry about breaking their nails or getting their hair messed up. We started to see a change in that over a decade ago.
“It’s true that if you want to look glamorous all the time, this is the wrong job for you since you could be shovelling snow or picking up dead animals. But it is a great feeling having the airfield as our office and if you can deal with all weathers, think on your feet, be thick-skinned but open-minded and approachable, then it’s the best job in the world.”
Leanne, who also made the move from airport customer services to Airfield Ops, said: “It was more male dominated back in the day but that has completely changed now. I would recommend it to anyone including women who want an interesting job in a dynamic work environment – being outside with the aircraft means it’s where all the action happens. It is fast-paced, you never get two days the same, and once it’s under your skin you can’t shake it!”
Lauren, who was recently appointed as an Aviation Ambassador by the Department for Transport to promote the sector to the younger generation and under-represented groups, said that East Midlands Airport is a very welcoming employer for women.
She said: “The attitudes have changed over the years - there was a time when a woman marshalling a plane was seen as unusual. I’m pleased we’ve moved on from that and the fact the Airfield Ops team today is 36% women shows how much it has evolved and it will continue to.
“We recognise women’s skills and abilities such as decision-making, problem solving, critical thinking, and approachability when working with different stakeholders, that are so important in roles such as Airfield Ops.
“The more women we have in different roles, the more that other women can see themselves doing those jobs. I would encourage women to take the leap - there is something for everyone in the airport community.”