Oakland tackles gender gap

Redditch, UK: Oakland International has launched several initiatives to help address the gender imbalance in the logistics industry. “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,” the company says.

“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.”

Lynne Pearson, transport manager, Oakland International, (pictured above) who joined the company three years ago, said: “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 represent around 7% of the logistics sector workforce which employs over 2 million people, and generated £139bn in 2019, and although female HGV driver numbers are increasing, they still only account for 0.7% of the UK’s qualified HGV drivers.

Last autumn, Pearson and fellow female colleagues attended the launch of Women in Cold Chain, where Oakland International’s chief executive, Dean Attwell was a speaker. The initiative aims to encourage female school leavers, university graduates, and women from other industry sectors to consider a career in the temperature-controlled storage and distribution industry, which traditionally is male dominated.

“I do believe that there are a lot of men that just don’t realise the challenges women face, and they need to hear about it firsthand to understand, and for them then to support women in their chosen profession, no matter what that might be,” Pearson, said.

Pictured is Lynne Pearson, transport manager, Oakland International