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NWAA Member Event Safran

📅 Date: Friday 13th March 2026
⏰ Time: 8.30am – 12.45 pm
📍 Venue: Safran Nacelles Ltd, Bancroft Road, Burnley, BB10 2TQ
NWAA & Safran
SUBJECT: ‘Skills & People | Preparation For The Future”
Confirmed Speakers: Safran | ADS | Nybble | Burnley College
Join NWAA and Safran on Friday 13th March 2026 at Safran Nacelles Ltd, Burnley, for “Skills & People | Preparation for the Future” – a focused morning exploring how the sector must evolve its talent, skills and leadership to stay competitive.
From future workforce readiness and digital upskilling for Industry 4.0, to building a culture of continuous learning, attracting diverse talent, strengthening human factors leadership, and preparing for sustainable aviation transformation, this event brings together industry and education leaders to tackle the sector’s most pressing people challenges.
| 08.30am | Arrival & Registration |
| 08.45am | Breakfast & Networking |
| 9.15am | Welcome & Open, NWAA CEO Paula Gill |
| 9.20am | Welcome & Overview, Safran Managing Director Nicola Bardsley |
| 9.35am | SPEAKER #1: Paul Oxley | Director General (Skills) | ADS Group Ltd:
[[SUBJECT]] Future Workforce Readiness in UK Aerospace How the Industry must Evolve its Talent Pipelines | apprenticeships, graduate pathways, and cross-sector recruitment – to meet next-generation aerospace needs. |
| 9.50am | SPEAKER #2 Michelle Hubel | Head of Digitalisation | Safran Nacelles:
[[SUBJECT]] Digital Skills for a Digitised Aerospace Sector | Upskilling and reskilling teams for Industry 4.0, including AI adoption, digital twins, data literacy, and automation in manufacturing. |
| 10.05am | SPEAKER #3: Neil Burrows | Director of Skills & Innovation & Assistant Principal | Burnley College:
[[SUBJECT]] Building a Culture of Continuous Learning in High-Reliability Environments – Practical strategies for embedding lifelong learning, maintaining certification pathways, and creating adaptable teams in a safety-critical industry. |
| 10.20am | SPEAKER #4 Nicola Bardsley | Managing Director | Safran Nacelles MARKETPLACE & NETWORKING:
[[SUBJECT]] Developing and Retaining Diverse Talent in Aerospace – Demonstration of supporting inclusion and diversity at Safran Nacelles and developing talent pipelines through partnerships while allowing networking in the group. Marketplaces of;
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| 10.35am | Coffee Break – continuation from the previous session |
| 11.05am | SPEAKER #5 Kathryn Starr | HR Director | Safran Nacelles:
[[SUBJECT]] Retention Is the New Recruitment As competition for skilled aerospace talent intensifies, retaining experienced people has become a strategic priority. This session explores how inclusive practices, wellbeing, and career development are essential to sustaining capability, safety, and performance in a high-reliability manufacturing environment. The session will also highlight how shop-floor development initiatives, including the Companion Network, are enabling practical career progression, skills transfer, and long-term engagement across Safran Nacelles. |
| 11.20am
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SPEAKER #6 Joe Makepeace | Mission Specialist | Nybble Ltd
[[SUBJECT]] Human Factors & Leadership for the Aerospace Systems of Tomorrow – Preparing leaders and teams for new technologies, evolving regulations, and collaborative working between humans and intelligent systems |
| 11:35am | Audience Q & A’s |
| 11:45am | Event Close before Site Tours – Paula Gill CEO NWAA |
| 11.50am | Site Tour Of The Safran Facility – Smaller Groups commences @ 11.50am |
| Booking closes Friday 6th March |









