The finalists have been announced for this year’s MAN everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards, with the winner to be announced on May 14 at the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London, UK.
Sponsored by MAN Truck & Bus UK, in association with Skills for Logistics, the awards aim to highlight the contributions that women are making in the various transport and logistics areas and to encourage more women to pursue a career in them.
This encouragement is important in a business which all too often gives the image of being male dominated, according to Dorothea Carvalho, Director of Professional Development at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK and one of the competition’s judges.
“There aren’t barriers to entry but there is an image of the sector that puts people off,” she told Automotive Logistics. “Employers are very keen to employ the best people but actually its women themselves who might look at the sector and say ‘oh, maybe that’s not for me’. It’s very much a question of us changing the image of the sector.”
The awards seek to highlight that the stereotype of a white, male-dominated industry is not a true reflection of its workers and that there are plenty of exceptional women working within the transport and logistics sector.
The award categories include Rising Star of the Year, Commercial Driver of the Year, Director of the Year, Warehousing, Industry Trainer of the Year and Team of the Year. The judges will also recognise a Woman of the Year award, “given to one enthusiastic and dedicated woman whose vision, innovative approach and success make her an outstanding role model,” according to the organisers.
“All of those [categories] show women in a positive light,” said Carvalho. “And you’ve got variation. You’ve got warehouse people, you’ve got commercial drivers and you’ve got directors. That is great because it shows you can be top of what you’re doing but it doesn’t mean you have to top of the whole organisation.
“I was a judge last year…and all of the people that I looked at were really inspirational, doing incredible jobs, and not because they were women but because they were effective employees and inspirational leaders. I think it’s a very, very worthwhile award.”
The awards will culminate in a ceremony and luncheon, compered by comedian Ruby Wax.
