The winners of the 2010 national MAN everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards,
sponsored by Motor Transport, have been announced. Now in their third year, the prestigious awards in association with Skills for Logistics celebrate the achievements of women making their mark in the sector. Vicky Taylor, Driver for Home Delivery Network from Whiston, Merseyside, has been crowned Commercial Driver of the Year, sponsored by Motor Transport.
Vicky’s inspiration for becoming a commercial driver is rooted in seeing the opportunity to really drive customer satisfaction. She started work at Home Delivery Network in November 2002 as a customer services executive. Having worked within a call centre environment she was sent out with a driver for the day as part of her development, she loved what they did, the way they had the ability to really take time out to help customers when necessary, as well as make a real difference to a customer’s experience by being friendly and helpful.
In March 2006, Vicky decided she wanted to become the latest addition to Home Delivery Network’s 2,500-strong driver team. After a series of gruelling driver and fitness assessments, she passed with flying colours and now delivers parcels to hundreds of households in the Merseyside area. Vicky is seen not just as a role model for women in her business, but as someone all colleagues should aspire to become.
Vicky comments, “I do work within a male dominated depot environment and I deal with this by never getting complacent, always striving to be the best at what I do.”
These awards highlight the great roles women are excelling at within the industry, a sector which is traditionally dominated by men. These women act as role models to encourage and inspire other women into roles within the industry, a sector with many diverse career opportunities for women, ranging from operational, distribution and planning roles, to customer service and warehousing. Those women who demonstrate talent can rapidly progress to management level, where the opportunities are endless, and the winners in the MAN everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards are examples of those leading the way.
Maxine Benson MBE, Co-founder and Director of everywoman comments, “We have had a phenomenal response this year with more entries than ever before, so it’s a really great achievement for Vicky to be named as winner in the Commercial Driver of the Year category. It’s important for women to look as broadly as possible at the various career options available and the Transport and Logistics sector is an area that offers fantastic opportunities for those who are eager to work in management positions and is so often overlooked. Vicky is a huge inspiration to other women wanting to work or further their careers in the industry and I wish her the best of luck.”
Steve Hobson, Editor of Motor Transport adds, “This is great news for Vicky who has been carefully selected from many entries and highlights how motivated self-starters can succeed in the transport and logistics industry.”
Des Evans, CEO MAN Truck & Bus UK – Northern Europe said, “The achievements of today’s winners cannot be underestimated. They have set the very highest standards in their own roles and are an example for anyone thinking of entering the transport and logistics industry. Within our own MAN team we have seen for some time the many benefits women bring into the business, and to be able to support this initiative again this year is both a pleasure and a privilege.”
The judging panel for the 2010 MAN everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards this year includes: Rebecca Salt, Group Director of Marketing and Communications at
CEVA Logistics; Lesley Parker, Professional Development Manager at CILT UK; Elaine Miller, Operations Director at Wincanton; John Harvey CBE, Chairman of Keswick Enterprises Ltd; Kate Gibbs, Head of Communications at Road Haulage Association Ltd; Jonathan Chadburn, Vice President of Global Retail at DHL; Theo de Pencier, Chief Executive of the Freight Transport Association; Valerie Todd, Director of Talent & Resources at Crossrail Ltd; Shane Corbyn, Head of Demand Chain Development at Skills for Logistics; Dave Dodd, Frontline Learning Manager at Royal Mail; Toni Eastwood, OBE, Training & Development Director at everywoman and Janet Entwistle, Managing Director at BT Fleet Ltd.
(source: Everywoman Awards)
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