Sodexo’s Natalie Atherton named in 2019 Top 50 #WomeninEngineering

We’re incredibly proud of our team mate Natalie who was recognised yesterday for being in the top 50 women engineers of 2019. A fantastic achievement for a brilliant engineer ? and such well deserved recognition for Nat ?Celebrating 100 years of the women in engineering! #WE50 pic.twitter.com/Srlbe0PV1X

— Kim Burford (@Kimburford74) June 25, 2019

Sodexo Zone Operation Manager, Natalie Atherton, has been announced as one of 2019’s Top 50 Women in Engineering (WE50) by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES).

Natalie joined Sodexo in 2012 as an engineer technician following an apprenticeship with Sodexo client and leading pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Natalie currently holds the role of Zone Operation Manager, a senior position within Sodexo’s AstraZeneca contract, supporting a £15 million state-of-the-art hypoxic (low oxygen) high bay warehouse facility. She manages a team of 12 direct and indirect reports and is responsible for all aspects of integrated facilities management, including the support of automation.

Over the last 13 years Natalie has worked hard to support the promotion of engineering as a profession and has acted as a role model for young people wanting to enter the profession.

Natalie has been involved in supporting set up of a women’s engineering network and has produced a podcast on her working experience for a Sodexo’s employee network created to promote gender equality, SoTogether.

The WE50 is released as part of celebrations for International Women in Engineering Day. This year, the list was published with a theme of ‘Current and Former Apprentices’ to highlight the opportunities that engineering apprenticeships offer women.

Those listed on the WE50 received their awards in a celebratory WES Afternoon Tea event held at the Royal Academy of Engineering on 24 June.

Natalie Atherton, Zone Operation Manager, Sodexo UK & Ireland commented on her win:

“I am extremely honoured and proud to be recognised alongside female engineering role models from across the UK and Ireland – it was a lovely surprise! I am fortunate to work in a company where gender parity plays such an important role in making sure that our business thrives, and I will continue to encourage and support other women into the FM and engineering professions.”

David Bailey, CEO of Sodexo Corporate Services, Sodexo UK & Ireland said:

“We are all immensely proud that Natalie has been recognised in this prestigious list. At Sodexo we are committed to creating inclusive workplace and Natalie is a great role model for all our people.”

The Women’s Engineering Society (WES) is a charity which started in 1919 at the end of the First World War supporting women to achieve their potential as engineers, applied scientists and leaders and to reward excellence. The WES also encourages and promotes the education, study and application of engineering by working with organisations and influencers to promote gender diversity and equality in the workplace.

Pictured: Natalie Atherton, Zone Operation Manager, Sodexo UK & Ireland