Having always prided itself on recognising the diversity of the transport and logistics industry, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) now continues to embrace this and has joined forces with everywoman.
"FTA delighted to encourage forward thinking companies that are in turn committed to encouraging diversity to the freight industry, and working further with 'everywoman' will offer FTA opportunities to expand that work," says Theo de Pencier, FTA Chief Executive, adding: "the key for our industry is to be able to access a wider talent pool to be able to meet its need for good quality staff in whichever role it needs to fill."
FTA has supported everywoman and its initiatives since 2008 including the everywoman in Transport & Logistics Leadership Academy and now the FTA everywoman Accelerate Programme. As part of the continued collaboration the association has now become the title partner for the FTA everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards for 2013. Now in its sixth year, the Awards celebrate women working within the transport and logistics industry who are enjoying success and will ultimately inspire others to join the sector.
Theo de Pencier and Max Benson (co-founder of everywoman) took part in an FTA webchat discussing the work of both organisations, when each spoke of the importance of working together to effectively communicate the importance and business benefits of a diverse workforce to everyone at all levels within a company, and the freight industry as a whole. To view the video go to http://www.fta.co.uk
The FTA everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards began as a way of celebrating the hard work and achievements by women in the sector, and FTA hopes that they will continue to uncover inspirational role models, improve the image of the industry, and demonstrate that the support and development of female talent is taken seriously within the sector.
The 2013 Award categories have been expanded for 2013 to encompass both passenger and commercial transport, and now are:
Rising Star of the Year Award
Driver of the Year Award
Director of the Year Award
The Warehousing Award
Industry Champion Award - new for 2013
Innovation & Sustainability Award - new for 2013
Team Leader of the Year Award
Woman of the Year Award
During the webchat Max Benson, everywoman co-founder said:
"The FTA everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards and the Leadership Academy have a key role to play in addressing some of the challenges faced by women in the sector. This is a talent issue; women make up nearly half of the UK workforce and yet only 25% of employees in the industry are female. everywoman is committed to changing the image of the industry so that talented women recognise that their career ambitions can be realised in the transport and logistics industry."