Perception is changing but nationally women are still under-represented within the logistics and supply chain sectors, a situation that many businesses like total supply chain solutions provider Oakland International are working hard to change.
With their goal to have a workforce which broadly reflects labour availability Oakland International have rolled out several initiatives with the sole aim of cutting through the many real barriers women face.
Operating flexible shift patterns, trialling workplace childcare facilities, and offering the same pay rates irrespective of gender for both part-time and full-time workers, are all aimed to enhance gender diversity as Oakland believes a mix of masculinity and femininity brings benefits including alternative thinking, increased productivity, reliability, and retention, and that by attracting more female talent and providing a platform for career development benefits all parties.
Oakland International Transport Manager, Lynne Pearson, joined the company three years ago.
Said Lynne: “I’ve always had an interest in transport and joined to assist with their transport administration and drivers’ shifts. As my transport knowledge increased, and despite every day bringing new challenges, I wanted more and approached Oakland to undertake the CPC (Certificate in Professional Competence) transport qualification.
“They were very supportive and even put me through the required training and qualification, which I successfully completed in November 2022, and when the opportunity arose, I applied, and in September I was appointed transport manager.”
Women only represent around 7% of the logistics sector workforce which employs over 2 million people, and generated £139 billion in 2019, and although female HGV driver numbers are increasing, they still only account for 0.7% of the UK’s qualified HGV drivers.
Lynne, together with fellow female colleagues, attended the launch event of Women in Cold Chain (WiCC) in September, where Oakland International’s Co-Founder and Group CEO, Dean Attwell, was one of the speakers.
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