Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DI&B) are a fundamental part of Ascent’s ethos and we are delighted to welcome Operations Improvement Lead, George Nickson, as the new Chair of our DI&B employee committee. Find out more about him.
Can you tell us about your background and your career/ life journey to date.
I’ve lived in London, Berkshire and abroad, but now find myself comfortably settled in Stroud, Gloucestershire. The majority of my career has been working in supply chains, including warehousing, manufacturing, data analysis and most recently lean and continuous improvement. I’ve been fortunate to work for some very well-known brands including Twinings and Paramount Pictures.
What does your role at Ascent entail?
The Quality & Continuous Improvement department aims to support the business by providing structure, tools and coaching for compliance and continuous improvement, all with the aim of achieving customer satisfaction by delivering first‑class training. In addition to this, I am leading the Process Development and Testing workstreams in the Ascent Training Operations Management System (ATOMS) project.
What attracted you to work at Ascent?
One of the attractions of working for Ascent was the clarity around the opportunity for my role within the broader business objectives. I was, and still am, excited by the plans and ambitions we have as a business and see clearly where my role fits into that.
What is the importance of the DI&B Committee at Ascent and why did you want to be involved?
I believe employers have a responsibility to ensure that people leave work each day as happy and healthy as when they arrived, both as a moral obligation and a foundation for high performance. This includes areas such as health and safety, mental wellbeing and job satisfaction. The DI&B committee provides a practical way for everyone to contribute to creating that environment. In my experience, this work is never finished and I’m keen to play my part.
What do you wish you had known when you started working with Ascent, that you know now?
I wish I had known all the military acronyms and UKMFTS roles…but I can’t confess to knowing them now either!
What do you enjoy most about working at Ascent?
Whilst the travel can be time‑consuming, I really enjoy visiting the training sites to see where the most important work is done and to build connections with the colleagues my role supports.
Other benefits, such as working from home and working 9 days in 10, really support bringing up a young family, for which I am very grateful.
Why would you recommend working for Ascent to others?
The responsibility and importance of training people to go on and do the jobs our aircrew undertake in the military cannot be underestimated, and being a small part of that offers great satisfaction.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
My time at home is shared between bringing up my young daughter and, now that it is spring, tending to an overgrown garden. I also volunteer at a local youth centre.
