The number of women holding senior positions in the vital transport and logistics sector has grown to a substantial degree with an ever increasing number of females now holding top jobs in areas of both regulation and operations. The image of truck operation as a man’s world is long gone and the 2.2 million work force in the sector now includes some 25 per cent of women, with growing numbers of female managers, drivers, engineers, transport office and other staff in all disciplines. However, the sector is still looking to recruit far more women.
The Freight Logistics Industry Image Group says that the women holding senior political and public appointments must now exceed any other equivalent sector. Chairman of the Group Geoff Dossetter said ”Women have always played an essential role in our essential industry. But the list of major office holders now is increasingly female! It will be very interesting to see what sort of impact this hugely important and influential group of managers and administrators will have on the future operation and performance of logistics.”
Top political and regulatory jobs held by women include:
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Secretary of State for Transport – Justine Greening
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Minister of State for Transport – Theresa Villiers
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Shadow Secretary of State for Transport – Maria Eagle
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Chair, Commons Transport Select Committee – Louise Ellman
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Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport – Lin Homer
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Acting Senior Traffic Commissioner – Beverley Bell
On the operational side, amongst thousands of senior female managers, leading personalities include Dragons’ Den’s Hilary Devey, the Chairman and CEO of Pall-Ex; Nikki King, the Managing Director of Isuzu Trucks UK; Jane Burkitt, Pepsico Supply Chain Director; Moya Greene, Chief Executive, Royal Mail Group; and Kay Phillips, CEO, GeoPost Worldwide.
Earlier this year the three name short-list for the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport prestige ‘Young Manager of the Year’ award contained three women.
Geoff Dossetter said “The logistics industry is an essential element in the whole of our economy and plays a vital role in the day to day way in which we live our lives, delivering the goods and services on which we all rely and enjoy. It should therefore not be surprising that the sector is leading the way in providing an attractive and rewarding career structure for women in all disciplines and at all levels from warehouse to boardroom and we welcome further recruits as the economy recovers from recession and the movement of goods increases.
“The list of political and public appointments relating to transport and logistics and held by women at present, together with the growing numbers of senior operating managers, should help to dispel the long out-of-date concept of our industry as a ‘men-only’ world.”
Group member Kate Gibbs from the Road Haulage Association said “The achievement of so many women in reaching the top in our industry should act as an encouragement to all. Logistics is an equal-opportunity sector and the sky is the limit for talented and enthusiastic women.”
The five members of the Freight Logistics Industry Image Group are the British Association of Removers, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association, and the sector skills council Skills for Logistics. The group is chaired by Geoff Dossetter, a former industry professional.
