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People, Investment, Community: How GE Aerospace is Building a Stronger Europe

July 1, 2026 | by GE Aerospace Staff

“Lifting people up”: it's part of our purpose. During GE Aerospace's 2026 Global Volunteer Week, this was put into action as employees from around the globe dedicated their time and talent to community service.

It was one big week of impact, with more than 1,300 volunteers contributing over 4,600 hours across nearly 90 events at almost 40 locations worldwide. On the ground in Europe, this global effort served as a tangible act of support for the local communities that are the foundation of the European aerospace industry.

Our People in Action: From Factory Floor to Community Support

While GE Aerospace is defined by its technology, our company is powered by its people. We believe that to build the future of flight, we must also be invested in the places our employees call home. 

This fundamental philosophy is detailed in our 2025 Philanthropy Report, which highlights a global contribution of more than $22.5 million and over 50,000 employee volunteer hours last year alone.

During Volunteer Week, that belief came to life through a range of projects. Our Avio Aero teams in Italy focused on food security, with volunteers preparing and distributing hot meals in Brindisi, while other teams supported charitable markets in Torino and Pomigliano. That commitment was mirrored in Caerphilly, UK, where employees packed Easter food supplies for local families to help bridge the gap left by the absence of free school meals during school holidays.

 

Avio Aero employees in Italy partnered with local organizations during GE Aerospace's 2026 Global Volunteer Week, packing boxes and preparing supplies for charitable markets and community members in need.
Avio Aero employees in Italy partnered with local organizations during GE Aerospace's 2026 Global Volunteer Week, packing boxes and preparing supplies for charitable markets and community members in need.

Other teams dedicated their efforts to improving local spaces. In Wales, UK, a volunteer team of aerospace engineers and technicians partnered with BLESMA (The Limbless Veterans charity) to restore a garden for the elderly widow of a veteran, transforming it into a place of peace and recovery, while in Prestwick, Scotland, another team created an improved garden for students at Dreghorn Primary School to learn and play.

 

GE Aerospace volunteers in Wales were active in their communities, from restoring a garden for a veteran's widow to packing food into bags for local families at an Easter foodbank in Caerphilly.
GE Aerospace volunteers in Wales were active in their communities, from restoring a garden for a veteran's widow to packing food into bags for local families at an Easter foodbank in Caerphilly.

Investing in Europe's Future: Beyond Volunteering

A deep community connection is what makes GE Aerospace a true partner in Europe’s aerospace success. Our €110+ million investment in European manufacturing and our commitment to creating over 1,000 new aerospace jobs in 2026 are the economic headlines, but the story behind those numbers is about the thousands of skilled individuals building a future for aerospace here in Europe. They are the apprentices in our award-winning programs, the engineers at our R&D hubs, and the technicians in our world-class MRO facilities.

The engines we build power flight, but it is our people, rooted in their communities, who power our progress. The gardens we tend and the communities we support are just as vital as the engines we build, because they are the foundation upon which our shared future takes flight. 

To learn more about our commitment to building the future of flight and supporting communities worldwide, explore our latest GE Aerospace 2025 Philanthropy Report. 

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GE Aerospace is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, as well as integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft.