b'28 Partner News Winter 2023CorporateVodafonesThe Centre of Excellence will support both apprentices, existing employees and career returners progress their career in Network Engineering. We have a wealth of knowledge within our existing teams so new Centrethe Centre of Excellence will enable work shadowing and knowledge transfer from our talented engineers.The Centre of Excellence aims to work with local charities such as Inspiring the Futures of Excellence who we launched a volunteer push with earlier this year to host apprenticeship taster days and encourage STEM returners to join which aligns with our Vodafone returner programme, open and encouraging both men and females. The power of partnerships But we know we cant do it alone. So, we have decided to partner with PPE provider, Arco, who are launching our new Vodafone is lifting the curtain on engineeringwomen PPE range with which will be seen with new partnerships and a Centre of Excellencein our try before you order PPE station at the Centre of Excellence. We are also launching early next year partnering with WWT who we are working with on training provision and upskilling programmes. Both Arco and WWT are committed to supporting our engineers with the right safety PPE and skills to be their best. This is just the start of what we plan, and we As a technology communications company,launching our new Centre of Excellencewould love to hear from you to help shape Vodafone is always at the forefront ofearly next year.those plans.innovation and technology but to be the best we can be, we need a diverseWe want to be able to bring to life what aIf you are interested in working with workforce. Vodafone has pledged today in the life of an engineer is for all ourus on any of the above, please reach become the Best Employer for Womenteams, whether they are technical or not.out to Rhiannon Brenton, Senior and weve constantly emphasised thatWe also want to provide our engineers withManager, Operational Excellence: technology is not solely the preserve of menthe opportunity to upskill in their role in linerhiannon.brenton@vodafone.com - we have women in all roles helping to runwith technical career pathways. one of the UKs most successful technology companies. But we know there is more to do, especially to encourage more women into engineering roles.On International Women in Engineering Day in June this year, we partnered with Womens Engineering Society (WES) in time for International Women in Engineering Day. Following on from this in August we launched our first Women in Engineering Network from MES, our focus being to work on outreach programmes to encourage women into engineering where they are currently only represented at 16.5%. Supporting career pathways Managed Engineering Services (MES) within Vodafone UK are also excited to be'