With woman remaining under represented in the world of work, especially in specific areas like logistics, construction and finance, it’s important that we strive to change the narrative in these male dominated industries. As a managing director for a logistics company, I have experienced first-hand what it is like to work in a male dominated industry, and despite the perception of the industry, it’s a very adaptable industry that welcomes the specific skills women can bring to the working environment. Both women and men bring their own unique skills to the workplace, and this can create a collaborative and optimal working environment for any industry. There are still things we can do to inspire and welcome woman into industries that might traditionally be seen as male-dominated.
Training programmes and apprenticeships Training programmes are a great way to welcome woman into a male dominated industry. Having programmes that are welcoming and inviting for woman to take part allows them to consider that industry as a potential career path, something they may not have considered if they didn’t have access to introduction training programmes. Apprenticeships are another great way to encourage hands on and vocational learning, it’s something we are passionate about as a business and we’ve seen the benefits of over the last few years. Introducing apprenticeship programmes to your company can increase inclusivity and help inspire and welcome young women into a career they may have been considering but weren’t sure how to get involved. This then sets them up with experience for future job applications. Workplace culture Your workplace culture is a crucial step to encouraging more woman into your company. If your company is currently male dominant, think about ways you can introduce a culture that would make it a place woman would want to work. Offering things like medical benefits, enhanced maternity leave, flexible working and opportunities for career growth are a few that could be incorporated. It’s important to listen to employees and gain an understanding of them and what they need from an employer regardless of their gender. Provide leadership opportunities Making sure you are introducing leadership opportunities can be a key step to changing the narrative of your male dominated industry. Hiring women at a leadership level and providing clear progression paths for all, will highlight that your companies goal is to be as inclusive and diverse as possible. Salaries and benefits It’s important to plug the salary gap and identify areas in your company where you feel there may be disadvantages. A fair and equal salary is something that should be implemented throughout all workplaces, but something that is still unfortunately a work in progress. Salaries at LNH are based solely on specific job roles and experience, and never on gender. Community and support groups Working with community, youth, and support groups that are woman owned or focused on women in business could allow the woman in your workplace to feel more confident in their role, by giving them the opportunity to talk and gain inspiration with likeminded people in the industry. This could also open other avenues, as these groups could generate new ideas for improvement in your workplace.We still have a long way to go to bridge this gap, but some of these examples given could be a crucial step to ensuring you are improving equality in your company and encouraging woman to take that step into a male dominant industry.
