The UK is becoming more gender-equal by the minute, but there’s still a lot to be done. In 2006, Yvonne Noble joined the supply chain technology consultancy Balloon One when it was a fraction of its current size, and she has sat on the management team since 2012. She is currently the company Operations Manager and has leveraged her career in administrative roles to bring in functional process improvements. Here, she offers her tips for encouraging more women to follow in her footsteps and apply for positions in logistics.
Logistics is a great industry to work in. There are plenty of opportunities for career progression, both upwards and lateral, as well as a varied range of roles, to suit almost every skillset. What’s more, the logistics industry is quick to embrace new technology and practices, which can make it quite a modern and exciting area to work.
Yet the logistics sector has been one of the slowest to adapt in terms of equal opportunities and attracting female talent. Companies have started to realise that, with a diverse workforce, better financial returns can be produced, which has resulted in companies being keen to hire more women. However, the problem seems to be hot to attract more women to consider working in the industry.
Fortunately, there are some simple changes that you can make to diversify your team. Below, I’ll take you through some of the best ways you can widen your appeal and attract more women to careers in logistics.
Start inspiring girls and women early
One of the best ways to make sure there will be enough female candidates for future roles in logistics is to start inspiring girls and young women early. You can do this as a logistics company by running or supporting schemes and events, particularly those aimed at inspiring female students, that promote STEM school subjects.
STEM subjects can set pupils up with the skills they need to have a future in logistics, but the majority of students who choose to study them at college or university are primarily male. Research has shown that girls do enjoy these subjects until A-level (IFS), which indicates that the interest is there. Still, they are dissuaded from pursuing them further.
Logistics companies and businesses need to demonstrate the opportunities that are available for women who study STEM, reinforcing the fact that STEM can be fun and engaging enough for girls, and young women, to want to stick with it. It’s also a good idea to start getting involved with career fairs by offering apprenticeships, internships, or work experience for young people.
Change perceptions within the industry
Women might be deterred from pursuing careers in logistics if they don’t understand the scope of available roles. For example, warehouse operatives are usually portrayed as men in marketing and branding. Women might assume this is because men are better suited to these kinds of roles — particularly if they have doubts about whether they’d be able to physically endure a laborious role in warehouse operations.
In reality, these jobs are getting more modern by the minute, and use all kinds of technology and software, including robotics, to keep productivity high. So, they offer a great opportunity to work in a constantly changing environment, a chance to operate some cool tech, and are less physically demanding than women might realise.
It’s also important to communicate within your marketing and branding, just how varied the roles within logistics are. From warehouse management to planning, there’s a lot to choose from. Additionally, there are opportunities for lateral career progression across all areas of the supply chain, including purchasing and manufacturing.
Attract the right talent
When publishing a job advert, you’re telling potential applicants as much about your company as you are about what sort of person you want to fill the position you’re offering. It stands to reason that, if you present yourself as a company full of men, you’ll only receive applications from more men.
Even the language you use in your listing can communicate a certain projection about the person you’re looking to hire, as words like “lead”, “analyse”, and “competitive” appeal more to men than women. So, try to use more neutral language instead, such as “support”, “understanding”, and “responsible”, which can seem less aggressive (Total Jobs).
Company culture is important, and applicants will likely do a quick search of your company website and social media. That’s why you should be focussing on producing inclusive content that highlights the diversity of your teams so that women and other minorities know they’re likely to fit in well at your logistics company.
You should also aim to have women on the interviewing panel, as it can help put female interviewees at ease. Women will also be able to answer more questions and offer a female perspective on what it’s like to work for your company.
Offer equal benefits and pay
It’s important to look at the benefits and salaries that your company provides and determine whether you need to make them more inclusive. The gender pay gap is still far from closed in the UK and, in logistics, a massive 70% of companies admit they still pay men higher salaries than women (CILT UK).
One of the ways this is perpetuated is by offering to match a candidate’s previous salary. If their previous employer made the mistake of paying them less, you’d end up doing the same. So, it’s best to start fresh with each new hire.
In terms of benefits, one of the most popular perks offered by an employer is flexible working. This gives every employee a better work/life balance, which is good for their wellbeing as well as productivity. Employee retention is also positively affected by this, which will benefit the company in the long run. Altogether, flexible working makes for a much more attractive place to work for those with families and other commitments.
Flexible working options you could offer include remote working, different options for start/finish times, and introducing part-time contracts if you haven’t already.
These are just some of the ways you can begin to attract more women to fill roles in your logistics company. Bear them in mind, and you’re sure to find yourself benefitting from a wealth of female talent.
Yvonne Nobel
