Caroline Barber, Business Integration Manager for Wincanton, has scooped the MAN Everywoman in Transport and Logistics Rising Star of the Year Award. This follows just weeks after returning from an 18 month secondment with Transaid in Zambia.
Caroline had been working in partnership with the Industrial Training Centre Trust (ITCT) in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, to manage the Transaid Professional Driver Training Project. The project is being strongly supported by a consortium of UK transport and logistics companies and Caroline has been instrumental in coordinating their input over the last two years.
"When the project began in August 2008, no one could have foreseen that it would have grown as rapidly as it has," says Chris Saunders, Chief Executive of Transaid. "The growth has enabled two additional satellite training sites to be established, in addition to an extension of our remit to offer forklift truck and bus driver training. This is all of largely due to Caroline's hard work and dedication to the project, which has developed far beyond our expectations."
Over 600 drivers were trained in 2009 and four driver trainers are now fully equipped with the skills and knowledge to offer driver training to internationally recognised standards. Through her diligence, Caroline has ensured the ITCT offers quality truck driver training to include 30 per cent more practical time, combined with a student to trainer ratio reduced by 40 per cent - a demanding task in an environment where resource is limited and income is a key priority. The centre is also now running at full capacity, generating over 52 per cent more income than in 2008.
Although now back in the UK, Caroline is continuing to give input into the setting up of a similar project in Tanzania, before starting back full time with Wincanton at the end of May.
Talking about her experiences in Africa, Caroline says: "I am delighted to have had the possibility, through Wincanton, to assist Transaid and to work with the many other people who have contributed to the professional driver training project. It's wonderful to see that it has had such a powerful impact on the ground and is helping to save many lives."
In addition to Caroline winning this award, Transaid were also privileged to be the beneficiary charity of the event and raised over £2,500 towards its cause.
For more information, visit www.transaid.org