Industry still facing gender imbalance

There remains a substantial gender imbalance in the transport industry, with women making up less than 20% of the workforce.

However, with the number of jobs in the sector set to grow by 22% in the next three years, there is a great opportunity to begin to redress the balance.

There are signs that momentum is growing in this regard, and everywoman, a leading expert for the advancement of women in business, is committed to celebrating the UK’s brightest female talent in the industry using its annual everywoman Transport and Logistics Awards – now in their 11^th year – as a platform to applaud their success.

The awards showcase the range of opportunities that redefine an industry traditionally seen to offer manual, male-dominated jobs.

Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman, said, ‘Women account for only 18% of the overall transport and logistics industry, which is a cry for urgent change to be made, considering the value they add. Encouraging women to pursue senior positions is crucial for the growth of the sector. Building the future of logistics means highlighting the role of technology and emotional intelligence in more creative job roles. This proves how many opportunities are also out there for the younger generation. Our finalists this year are already occupying these roles and their success stories will inspire others to do the same.

‘Each year our awards play a vital role in changing the perception of the transport and logistics industry. With each success story shared by our nominees, more women are inspired to explore the variety of fulfilling careers in this ever-evolving industry. This year, we are highlighting the role that technology plays in creating even more opportunities in the industry and how this identifies the need for many different skills. And because we know that businesses with a more gender diverse workforce are 46% more likely to outperform those without, it is imperative that more women enter the industry.’

This year’s awards will take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 13 June.