GMS marks International Women’s Day 2026

Georgia Evans

Food and Beverage Manager

Rachel Parr

Associate Director of Business Operations and Governance

Now that I’m the age that I am, I think there’s a really different dynamic to working alongside women. Today, over 70% of women over 50, in the UK, are in full time employment.  They may also be caring for ageing parents, helping teenagers navigat

e life, managing their own relationships, fighting their hormones, and generally keeping

 lots and lots of plates spinning both at home, and at work. So, Happy International Women’s Day. If you are one, I hope you get to take a moment and think about how incredible you are for everything that you manage to get done.

Sharon Mortimer

Linen and uniform Supervisor

Working in the NHS and GMS, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working alongside some truly amazing women

 who have progressed in their careers and achieved their goals. It’s brilliant to see, and incredibly inspirational for other women to follow in

 their footsteps.

Apart from my mum — a hardworking, kind woman who guided me and helped me grow — the woman who is inspiring to me is Marie Curie. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the first person ever to win it twice. Curie discovered the elements radium and polonium, breakthroughs that became monumental in the development of cancer treatments. She also created the first portable X‑ray machines, which transformed medical care and saved countless lives.

Her determination, intelligence, and compassion continue to inspire me and remind me of the power of women who lead with strength and purpose.

Emma Underwood

Access Control

I feel truly honoured to represent our workplace this international woman’s day.

Working in administration means being at the heart of the organisation – supporting teams, keeping things moving, solving problems quietly and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

As a mum of three I carry many of those same skills into my life outside of work. Balancing family and career has taught me strength, patience and the importance of community. It has shown me that leadership isn’t always loud – sometimes its found in consistency, care and the ability to keep going even on the busiest days.

Today I celebrate the woman who support, nurture, lead and organise every single day – both in their work and at home.

Kaye Law-Fox

Chair

As I reflect on International Women’s Day I recall the influential women I know, have known, and don’t know personally.  Some strong and loyal, some quiet and resourceful, some stoic in leading the way, and some with opinions, and others with a ‘we simply do not care much anymore’ attitude to aging (credit to Melanie Sanders).  Among the many losses I’ve endured over the past 18 months were some of those women who embodied those values; they have left a space in my life.  That space is being filled by their individual legacies.  We all need each of those attributes at different times, not only as women, but as people; people trying hard in trying times. 

I relish the memories of all the women who cared, supported, influenced. cajoled and pushed me; and all the women who continue to do so.  Thank you ladies.