HGV Driving & Logistics: NOT a man’s world, says Delivering Your Future

Kayley Ashton

Apprentice Transport Administrator, Shaw near Oldham

25-year old Kayley Ashton from Shaw near Oldham loves learning – and her Traffic Office apprenticeship with mail order company JD Williams allows her to do just that, while earning at the same time.

Nicki Brotherston

Head of Environmental Re-use, Birmingham

Nicki’s career prior to Pickfords was incredibly varied – from accountancy and the local authority to car parts and printing. Whatever the job, she’s always loved the personal side.

Rebecca Wood

Projects Executive, Hong Kong

As a Projects Executive at Kuehne + Nagel, Rebecca has looked after British Airways’ Wine and Spirits logistics. Her next role involves moving to Hong Kong to become a Bid Manager.

Maria Taylor

Implementation Manager, London

Maria started working for Kuehne + Nagel in Colombia as part of her university placement. She now works as an Implementation Manager in London.

Stacey Bird

Client Services Assistant, London

Stacey works in a specialist division that manages the relocation of company employees moving for job-related reasons.

Louisa Joseph

Business Manager, South London

Louisa’s job involves providing support to the Area Manager and liaising with other supervisors – working across all parts of the business including collections and the mail centre.

Jeanette Bresitz

Head of Merchandising, Cambridge

“I love the interaction with people and want to be able to pass on my skills and help people to develop in the way that people have helped me.”

Carly Halliday

Traffic Planner, Bristol

“I love the job because it can just change so quickly. When you get home from work, you actually feel like you’ve done a day’s work, which is a nice feeling.”

Emma John

Senior National Account Manager, Edinburgh

“The logistics industry is critical to all businesses. Working for a company like Menzies you appreciate the influence of the industry. Logistics is everywhere and everyday life couldn’t function without it!”

Rebecca Marshall

Driver, Leicester

“I love being out in the fresh air and out of an office. The job keeps me fit. Drivers are important, as we are the face of the company and as well as delivering parcels on time, we also need to deliver great customer service.”

Amy Victoria Wood

Regional Project Manager, Singapore

After studying psychology at university, Amy joined Kuehne + Nagel’s graduate programme in 2005 and now works as a Regional Project Manager in Singapore.

Beverley Mayes

Internal Sales Manager, Coventry

In this role Beverley is responsible for ordering stock and ensuring that she sources it at competitive prices. She feels that the company has supported her greatly in the time she’s been with them.

Andrea Foster

Product Manager, Potters Bar

“Senate Electrical is part of an international company which could give me the opportunity not only to develop my business skills but also use my language skills.”

Emma Clarke

Human Resources and Benefits Adviser, Trowbridge

“I feel like I make a difference! My ambition is to go into a more senior HR job in a few years time. Wilts have given me a really good opportunity and I feel I can grow here.”

Jessica Povey

Apprentice Shipping Clerk, Liverpool

“I am part of a team running a weekly export container service to the Mediterranean and I help to organise the loading and documentation of the ships on the service.”

Caroline Chapman

Marketing Co-ordinator, Liverpool

In her job Caroline deals with every aspect of the business – finance, operations, customer service and human resources.

Supporting women in logistics

To be successful, logistics businesses needs people of all kinds. Black and white, young and old, both men and women. Women in Logistics UK is a group set up in 2008 and made up of over 3,000 women and men. Their aim is to support the careers of women working in logistics.

Women in Logistics UK is made up of over 3,000 women and men from the logistics sector

Women are under-represented in the industry, and one of the group’s main aims is to encourage more women to consider logistics, whether school-leavers, graduates or career changers. The group also supports women working in the sector by organising networking events, mentoring, and showcases the achievement of role-model women. In July, Women in Logistics UK unveiled its first two annual award winners at a glittering ceremony – Adele Waite, general manager of a $1.25bn global contract for DHL, and logistics business Premier Farnell whose chief executive Harriet Green was named in the Financial Times’s Top 50 Women in Business.

Ruth Waring FCILT is the Founder of the group. Ruth says: “When I started working in transport in 1989 it was quite difficult – I had just emerged from university and it was quite a cultural change for me. However that experience gave me the idea for Women in Logistics UK, as I knew it would be invaluable to have the support of others when starting out in such a challenging and interesting new career. I would urge school-leavers and graduates to consider logistics for their career, and if they do then please join our group, get a mentor and get along to our fabulous, friendly networking events and parties. The noise at our events is deafening, and the group has changed lots of people’s perceptions of the industry.”

The group is free to join, and is open to anyone – both men and women – interested in the logistics sector who supports its aims.

Read the full article HERE.