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SPOA Women in Plant group tours Komatsu UK
On Friday 14th August, five members of the SPOA Women in Plant (WiP) group travelled to Komatsu UK Ltd’s factory in Birtley, just outside Newcastle, for a fantastic day of learning, experience and hands-on opportunities.
WiP member Zaya Grant shares her highlights from the visit:
During the visit, the members were given a short presentation on the history of Komatsu and the day-to-day running of the company, followed by a tour of the factory and had the opportunity to see the full process of how Komatsu machinery is built - from fabrication, to track fitting, cab installation, testing, painting and much more.
The WiP group was interested to see everything that goes into building these machines, as member Lisa Macpherson explains: “The factory tour was so engaging, informative and such a memorable experience. Being able to share this experience with other women including our female guide, Gemma, made the trip such a positive and welcoming environment.”
The group then headed to the demo ground, where they were able to try out a range of different machines. This was a highlight of the day! It was great to see all the girls getting stuck in, trying new machines and enjoying the opportunity to have a go.
What was particularly great to see was the way the group supported each other. If someone was unsure about something or had less experience on a particular machine, the others were there to help; showing patience, encouragement and understanding. They made sure everyone felt comfortable and confident enough to give things a try.
Charlie McGregor from the WiP group added: “It was so inspiring at the end of the tour, watching all the women together experiencing testing out all the different machines.”
This is exactly what we hoped SPOA WiP would become - a group where women can support one another, share knowledge, build confidence and create opportunities to experience parts of the industry they may not otherwise have access to.
The purpose of the visit was about much more than simply walking around a factory. The members were able to learn about Komatsu’s history, the people behind the machines, the different roles within the company and the opportunities available within the industry.
A huge thank you to host for the day, Gemma, who was absolutely incredible. She was extremely knowledgeable, welcoming and able to answer every question that was thrown her way. It was also fantastic to hear about the different career paths and opportunities within Komatsu.
Most importantly, it was a proud moment seeing all five girls getting involved, supporting each other and stepping outside their comfort zones to try something new - and having a great laugh throughout the day.
A massive thank you to Gemma at Komatsu UK Ltd and the Scottish team at McHale-Komatsu in Hamilton for such an enjoyable and informative day. We really appreciate the opportunity and look forward to creating more experiences like this for the SPOA WiP group in the future.
If you are interested in joining the Women in Plant group, please contact WiP@spoa.org.uk.