Carrier firm aims to deliver on greater equality in the transport sector
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Scottish delivery and logistics firm M&H Carriers is driving forward with its ambitions to improve equality in the transport industry.
The sector has traditionally been dominated by men, with women just taking just 20 per cent of roles in the industry, despite making up 47 per cent of the UK workforce.
M&H Carriers – which has depots in Inverness and Helmsdale, as well as Aberdeen and Dundee – wants the sector to do better and is leading by example with over half of the firm’s senior management positions held by women.
One such position is held by Jean McKenzie, general manager for Grampian, who has seen a definite shift in the way women are viewed in the transport industry over her 40-year career.
She said: “When I started my career, women were always overlooked for senior roles. When I was in my early 20s, I was promoted to traffic manager – but that was where the opportunities ended. At that time there was never a female depot manager – despite the fact that I used to train new managers how to do their job.
“In the past a lot of women felt a job in transport wasn’t for them – maybe because it was such a male-dominated environment – but there has been visible change over the years.
“There are lots of women driving bigger vehicles like HGVs, which never happened in the past. But I would definitely like to see more women considering a career in transport. There are so many opportunities out there – from driving to management, office-based positions to jobs where you can roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty.
“Every day in this job presents a different challenge, and that’s what I love about it. Companies I have worked for in the past are very corporate, but M&H Carriers is very family-oriented – we’re a valued part of the team and more than just a number.”
Managing director Fraser MacLean said: “There’s undoubtedly been a shift in the transport industry over the last few years, with more women seeing it as a viable career option. However there is definitely more that can be done to improve equality in our sector.
“As an industry we need to ensure that old stereotypes are not perpetuated, and that women are given equal opportunities to progress their careers. By recruiting women to senior positions we are not only strengthening our business, but we are also able to provide role models and something to strive for to those just starting their career.”
